RCB aim to be first carbon-neutral team

The line 'I pledge to switch off my lights' was humming in the P2 Pavilion here at Chinnaswamy Stadium yesterday.

Eminent celebrities, TV commentators and former cricketers decorated an artificial tree with leaves that had environment friendly messages.


Sidhartha Mallya

Before the game, the Royal Challengers Bangalore, who walked into the field sporting green jerseys and flannels instead of their traditional red and gold attire, took a pledge for a greener lifestyle. Later, commentators and ex-cricketers visited the P2 Pavilion to make their own pledges. The children and wives of cricketers and administrators pledged their support for a clean environment, too. "For us to embrace green, even if only for one game, shows that we are extremely serious about environmental concerns," RCB Director Sidhartha Mallya, who has taken a pledge not to consume any electricity for 24 hours, told MiD DAY.u00a0 "We have pledged our support towards the environment not just during the IPL, but throughout the year.

"The IPL is a great platform to spread such messages. I am sure by the end of this game, people will be inclining towards going green.

"Eventually, we want to become the first carbon-neutral cricket team in the world, and we intend to do it by the end of this IPL season.

"We want to achieve this before June 5, to symbolise RCB's commitment towards UN World Environment Day," he added. The tree will remain where it is, and the messages will be flashed on the big screen ahead of RCB's next home game on May 14.