Greenpeace’s new sponsor is “sickening”
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SPORT – A decision that is likely to be discussed within the team and the public. The New Zealand Rugby Union (NZR) has signed a sponsorship deal with British chemical and oil giant INEOS, which was announced on Wednesday 28 July and was immediately denounced by the Green Environment Society.
Ineos is famous in Europe for its sports activities. He is the owner of the Ineos Grenadiers cycling team, two football clubs (OGC Nice and FC Lausanne-Sport) and a contributor to the Mercedes team that has dominated Formula 1 since 2014.
The company, which specializes in chemicals, petrochemicals and polymers, has signed a six-year contract that will allow it to put its logo on the men’s and women’s All Black team shorts. This partnership provides NZ$8 million (€4.7 million) each year to New Zealand, starting in 2022, according to the local press.
The news was denounced on Wednesday by the Green Environmental Society, one of its local officials, Jorisa Lee, as “disgusting” the sponsorship contract with the oil conglomerate.
Ineos is considered a “climate polluter”
“Many of our rugby players are Maori or Pacific people, people on the front lines of rising sea levels and torrential rain. They should not be required to wear a polt tag like Ineos.” We want to see our citizens live their dreams wearing The black shirt (from All-Blacks). But now they will carry the Ineos brand.”
For his part, the president of the federation, Mark Robinson, expressed his happiness with the agreement reached with the British giant. “Together with Ineos Sport, we are determined to further the development of rugby over the next six years,” he said. “Ineos will bring an innovative approach and dedication to partnering with our teams (…), qualities that we see in all aspects of its business, particularly in the area of sustainability, with its commitment to ensuring a carbon-neutral future, in accordance with the Paris Agreement.”
This agreement signed in 2015 aims to limit temperature rise to a level well below 2 degrees compared to pre-industrial levels, preferably below 1.5 degrees.
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