20 PUBLIC GAMING INTERNATIONAL • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2024 The European Lotteries: Ahead of the Game with Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Programme The European Lotteries (EL) reaffirms its position as a sectoral leader in sustainability with a new commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across its members' operations. Announced on Sept 26, 2024 during the EL/WLA Sustainability and Responsible Gaming Seminar in Dublin, this initiative reflects EL’s continued dedication to driving environmental responsibility within the lottery sector. Building on the success of earlier projects, the next focus will be on actively decreasing greenhouse gas emissions, setting measurable targets and adopting sustainable practices by EL’s members to combat climate change. By encouraging its members to lower their carbon footprint, EL is setting a clear example to the sector that environmental change is both achievable and essential. This also further contributes to national lotteries’ positive social impact on society. In parallel, EL unveiled updated Sustainability Guidelines, which are now again fully aligned with global sustainability standards. They provide a comprehensive roadmap for EL members to further integrate sustainability into all aspects of their operations, from responsible supply chains to player protection and community engagement. "The new commitment demonstrates our proactive approach to addressing climate change, while the updated guidelines ensure that EL members remain at the forefront of environmental and social responsibility," says Romana Girandon, EL President. EL’s leadership in sustainability is further evidenced by its continuous efforts to influence policy debates, raise awareness and drive innovation for far reaching positive social impact. n internationally and locally. We need to prevent those who either don’t understand or don’t care about the long-term importance of sustainability in games of chance from clouding the issue and continuing harmful practices for short-term profit. If our companies are to have a sustainable future, we must act accordingly. While it is possible to generate significant shortterm profits at the expense of society, such practices ultimately threaten to undermine not only lotteries but the entire games of chance industry in Europe. EL’s extensive educational programme promotes best practices and knowledge sharing. How is it evolving with the times and helping members integrate sustainability more deeply into their operations? R. Girandon: In addition to the well-known EL seminars - many organized in partnership with WLA and our valued level 1, 2, and 3 partners – we’ve developed a comprehensive set of initiatives and deliverables to help EL members embed sustainability into their operations. With the EL Manifesto, we identified eight critical regulatory topics to safeguard the lottery model. EL is using it to engage with the European Institutions and encouraging members to do the same with national regulators and governments. We are continuing to support independent academic studies on the social value of lotteries, sports betting and other games of chance across several European countries. Our newly upgraded EL Sustainability Guidelines are now publicly available, providing members and any other interested parties with straightforward guidance on key sustainability topics. To strengthen the protection of minors, we’ve issued a call to the new European Commission. Additionally, the fifth class of the EL WILL - Women’s Initiative in Lottery Leadership has launched, featuring 12 new mentorship duos, including mentors and mentees from our partners. And, in collaboration with members with a strong lottery heritage, we are working to raise awareness and pursue UNESCO World Heritage recognition for the lottery model. As the year is coming to a close, we are looking ahead to 2025. Are you excited to go to Barcelona for the big EL/WLA Marketing Seminar in January? R. Girandon: It will be interesting to see how the transition from London to Barcelona unfolds. Changes like this offer an opportunity to refresh the old Marketing seminar, both in format and content. I’m looking forward to seeing how it turns out. At the same time, I cannot overlook the fact that Barcelona is also a beautiful city in Spain that is currently facing some of the worst floods in recorded history. I’m following the news with great sadness and concern, with my thoughts being with the people of Valencia during this difficult time. Across Europe, we’ve been witnessing extreme weather events almost every month - recently in Italy, Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Germany, Croatia, Poland, Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, and now Spain. Millions have been affected, with lives lost and property damage in the billions. It’s clear that the climate is changing and we all have a role to play in addressing it. Susan and I are looking forward to the EL Congress next year in Bern. It’s a little early, but is there anything you can tell us about it preliminarily? R. Girandon: First, after missing you in Paris, I look forward to seeing you and Susan in Barcelona and Bern. Congratulations to you both on your well-deserved induction into the Lottery Industry Hall of Fame. At the EL Congress in Bern, Switzerland, next September, we’ll share some of the most interesting outcomes of our initiatives, including those I’ve just mentioned. While some of our efforts are still evolving and results may vary, we are fully committed to demonstrating that the societal value of the lottery model - across all game verticals – stands as the best there is. n EL initiatives drive innovation for far-reaching positive social impact Walking the Talk: Investing in Sustainability — continued from page 12
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