Apex has stepped up to the crease to support the current T20 World Champions ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup to provide sustainability and environmental advisory services to CWI (the regional governing body for cricket in the West Indies – a unique sporting confederation of fifteen mainly English-speaking Caribbean countries). The partnership covers an initial a three-year period with Apex as CWI’s Exclusive Sustainability Partner. During the T20 World Cup, Apex’s logo will be the exclusive commercial partner on the sleeve of the West Indies Men’s playing shirts.
Apex Group is one of the world’s fastest growing financial services providers to over $2.2 trillion of assets[1], and a global market leader in the provision of Environmental, Social and Governance (“ESG”) rating, benchmarking reporting and advisory to businesses big and small, in every sector – to drive positive change for people and planet. As part of this partnership, the Group will deliver its carbon footprint assessment once a year for CWI, with the ultimate goal of supporting CWI to become carbon neutral as a result of the partnership.
Research published in 2020 by the Rapid Transition Alliance (“RTA”), estimates that cricket will be the sport hardest hit by climate change, and the impacts are already evident: India Premier League matches have been moved due to severe drought, heatwaves in Australia have hospitalised dehydrated cricketers, and two hurricanes recently hit the Caribbean, damaging cricket grounds in Anguilla and Dominica.
But cricket is not only a victim of climate change but is also a contributor through travel and the operation of playing facilities; it is estimated that the global sports industry is responsible for at least 0.6 per cent of global emissions that makes it responsible for 300–350 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.
The need to act now is undeniably clear, and with the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (“COP26”) taking place in the coming weeks, climate change is firmly at the top of the agenda on the world stage. By supporting CWI to identify and calculate the carbon emissions it contributes, Apex will help the organisation lead the way driving sustainability in Cricket and putting in place an action plan to reduce and offset these climate altering outputs.
Peter Hughes, Founder and CEO of Apex Group comments: “Amid the climate crisis, sport, like all industries, needs to act now to reduce its impact on the environment. We are excited to announce our partnership with the West Indies cricket team to provide our market leading carbon footprint consultancy services, to help cricket do its part to combat the growing, global climate crisis. The West Indies represents some of the world’s most beautiful natural environment that we are looking to protect, so for us it makes perfect sense to partner with Cricket West Indies to kick-start our campaign to drive sustainability in sport. We wish the team every success as they defend their title as the current holders of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.”
Ricky Skerritt, President of CWI said: “Sustainability is a powerful concept that is being woven into our organisational fabric on all fronts. We are therefore proud to announce this innovative commercial partnership with Apex Group, welcoming a new international partner to support West Indies cricket. For the many West Indian countries that we represent, climate change is a real and present danger. As the first international cricket organisation to systematically commit to evaluating and reducing our carbon output, Apex will help CWI devise an action plan to become fully sustainable on and off the pitch. For CWI, this will directly impact cricket because of how facilities and operations will need to change and adapt. We will also need plans to understand and offset the international and regional air travel that our teams have to undertake. In partnership with Apex, we intend to use our combined global platforms to act and drive change for future generations to come, of cricketers and fans.”
Will Chignell, Apex ESG Chief Commercial Officer further adds: “Of all the sports and teams available globally, we chose the West Indies as the perfect partners to align with Apex to launch this initiative: an ‘islands nation’ who understand the devasting impacts of climate change as well as anyone, and as the reigning T20 world champions, share our commitment to excellence. This long-term relationship underlines the commitment, both of Cricket West Indies itself to become more sustainable, but also to widen the message alongside Apex, that action is needed – now, from us all.”
About Apex Group Ltd.
Apex Group Ltd., established in Bermuda in 2003, is a global financial services provider. With 50 offices worldwide and 5,000 employees upon the close of announced acquisitions, Apex delivers an extensive range of services to asset managers, capital markets, private clients and family offices. The Group has continually improved and evolved its capabilities to offer a single-source solution through establishing the broadest range of services in the industry; including fund services, digital onboarding and bank accounts, depositary, custody and super ManCo services, business services including HR and Payroll and a pioneering ESG Ratings and Advisory service for private companies.
Press contact:
Antonia Powell Antonia.powell@apexfs.com
About Cricket West Indies
Cricket West Indies (CWI) takes great pride and responsibility in growing, guiding and organising cricket throughout the English-speaking Caribbean countries which form the West Indies, represented internationally by the West Indies men’s, women’s and age-group teams.
The West Indies international team is unique in cricket and in international sport. It is the only team in cricket that represents a group of nations, drawing on the strength, skills and passion of each nation to unite through cricket and take on the world.
CWI is the governing body for all professional and amateur cricket in the region, from the West Indies international teams and home series to regional tournaments such as the West Indies Championship (4-Day), the one-day CG Insurance Super50 Cup and the women’s T20 Blaze.
Press contact:
Philip Spooner, Media & PR Manager, pspooner@cricketwestindies.org
[1] Pending close of publicly announced acquisitions
