The Rio Open, the biggest tennis event in South America and ATP’s only one in Brazil, will be CO2 emissions neutral for the first time, thanks to a carbon credits donation from ENGIE and other steps taken by the event’s organizers. The partnership will offset close to 1,080 tons of greenhouse gases, corresponding to the planting of 6,600 trees per year.

The carbon credits are generated by the Jirau Hydroelectric Power Plant, a Specific Purpose Entity whose shareholders include ENGIE (40%), Eletrobras Eletrosul (20%), Eletrobras Chesf (20%) and Mizha Participações S.A. (20%).

Rio Open’s emissions have been estimated for all of the event’s phases, from setup to dismantling, including athlete and staff transportation and the additional power consumption of the Jockey Club Brasileiro during the tournament, which will be held February 25-23 in Rio de Janeiro. At the end of the event, an emissions inventory will be taken to arrive at the effecting amount of CO2 to offset.

The unprecedented partnership between ENGIE and the Rio Open contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), according to CEO Maurício Bähr. “ENGIE’s global strategy includes leading the energy transition towards a low-carbon economy. The Rio Open partnership aligns with this and is very relevant, both for the event’s size and impact, and for the SDG visibility it creates,” he emphasized.

The project is part of Rio Open Green, a green initiatives plan drawn by the tournament that also includes efficient waste management, with reduction, recycling and reuse.