Climate Pledge becomes first sports arena to earn zero carbon certification

Seattle's Climate Pledge Arena has become the world's first arena to receive a zero-carbon certification.

The International Living Future Institute announced this week that 12 consecutive months of data shows the home of the Kraken and the Seattle Storm has met its net zero-carbon standard.

“Our Zero Carbon Certification recognizes highly energy efficient buildings that are designed and operated to fully account for their carbon emissions impacts,” ILFI CEO Lindsay Baker said in a statement. “This is a significant undertaking, especially for as large and complex a project as Climate Pledge Arena. We are thrilled to see the arena become the first arena to achieve this.”

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A key requirement to receive this certification is that 100% of the energy an arena uses must come from renewable energy sources. Also, low-carbon materials must be used during construction, and it needs to create renewable energy on- or off-site. Climate Pledge has solar panels among other things and gets clean power from Puget Sound Energy's Lower Snake River wind farm.

During its recent remodel, the arena also nixed all its natural gas uses, and converted operations, like its heating system, to electric.

“Every day we work towards our Climate Pledge commitment of reaching net-zero carbon by 2040, and the arena’s ILFI certification demonstrates the progress we can make when Climate Pledge signatories work together,” said Kara Hurst, vice president of worldwide sustainability at Amazon. “I’m proud of the teams who have worked together to bring the world’s first official net zero carbon arena to life, and I’m excited for sports and entertainment fans to continue to experience all the arena has to offer.”

In 2020, Amazon purchased the naming rights to the arena, as owners kicked off a remodel effort. The online retailer named it Climate Pledge, after the company's own net-zero goals.