New York, April 22, 2025 — This Earth Day, nonprofit New York Road Runners (NYRR), which produces 60 adult and youth races annually including the TCS New York City Marathon, reaffirms its commitment to sustainability, announcing NYRR Team for Climate fundraising results from the recent United Airlines NYC Half, sustainability initiatives for the upcoming RBC Brooklyn Half®, and new carbon insetting and offsetting investments ahead of the 2025 TCS New York City Marathon as the program celebrates its first anniversary.

“We are making a significant commitment at New York Road Runners to accelerate our path to net zero carbon emissions,” says Rob Simmelkjaer, CEO, New York Road Runners. “NYRR Team for Climate is the first sustainability-focused entry method into a major marathon, and we are now directing the funds raised toward both carbon insetting and offsetting the carbon emissions that result from our operations year-round, including the travel of runners from around the world to our events, such as the TCS New York City Marathon.”

2025 United Airlines NYC Half Sustainability Success

As part of New York Road Runners’ goal of achieving Net Zero by 2040, the organization became the first major marathon to have an entry method tied to its sustainability efforts, introducing NYRR Team for Climate at the 2024 TCS New York City Marathon and providing runners the opportunity to fundraise to offset or reduce carbon emissions during New York Road Runners’ three marquee races, which also include the United Airlines NYC Half and RBC Brooklyn Half.

Building on the success of the 2024 TCS New York City Marathon—during which NYRR Team for Climate raised nearly $800,000 and offset the entire carbon footprint of the race—NYRR Team for Climate athletes offset the entire carbon footprint of the 2025 United Airlines NYC Half (based on 2023 measurements) and raised more than $140,000 in the process. The 2025 edition of the race became the largest in event and New York Road Runners half marathon history with more than 28,500 finishers.

In a historic first, a portion of the funds will also be used for carbon insetting, meaning investments in projects that reduce the total emissions generated by New York Road Runners’ events and operations. New York Road Runners is now the first major marathon with an entry method linked to sustainability using funds raised for carbon insetting initiatives. Moving forward, NYRR Team for Climate will support both carbon offsetting and carbon insetting initiatives.

NYRR Team for Climate was just one of several sustainability initiatives at the 2025 United Airlines NYC Half. Other highlights included:

• Nearly 17,000 pounds of discarded runner clothing from the start area collected and donated to All of Us Clothing
• More than 11,500 pounds of leftover food and recovery bags donated to City Harvest
• 40 athletes joined a two-mile pre-race plogging event with climate activist Tina Muir, during which participants picked up trash while running

2025 RBC Brooklyn Half® Preview

On May 17, New York Road Runners will continue the momentum during the RBC Brooklyn Half®—the original and premier running event in the borough with more than 28,000 athletes expected. In addition to welcoming 50 NYRR Team for Climate runners, race-day sustainability efforts include:

• Fully electric Volvo EX90s pace cars
• Finisher medals made with 100 percent recycled steel produced domestically and ribbons made from PolyEthylene Terephthalate (PET) recycled material
• Waste sorted by Green Team volunteers at five stations
• Discarded runner clothing from the start area collected and donated to All of Us Clothing
• Leftover food and recovery bags donated to City Harvest
• Gatorade and water cups composted at a farm in upstate New York

TCS New York City Marathon NYRR Team for Climate Expansion

The TCS New York City Marathon, November 2, is the BEST DAY in New York City and will mark the one-year anniversary of NYRR Team for Climate. NYRR Team for Climate registration for the 2025 TCS New York City Marathon will open April 30, with entry available for 200 runners to fundraise for the program. To maximize impact, New York Road Runners will continue to encourage athletes with a passion for sustainability to register for NYRR Team for Climate and share their stories.

Since the launch of NYRR Team for Climate, New York Road Runners has partnered with Anew, a global climate solutions leader, to use a portion of funds raised to purchase carbon credits for two improved forest management projects in New York state, the Hartwood Forestry Project and the Eagle Mountain Forestry Project.

The 2025 TCS New York City Marathon will expand efforts to include two additional improved forest management projects in Maine and New York:

• The 100-Mile Wilderness Forest Project encompasses over 13,000 acres of northern hardwood and spruce-fir forests in Piscataquis County, Maine including 130 miles of trails that can be used for walks and runs. Now owned and managed by the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC), the land is part of AMC’s broader Maine Woods Initiative, which has conserved more than 114,000 contiguous acres within the region. By leveraging carbon finance, AMC can implement forest management strategies that go beyond standard conservation approaches, helping to secure the long-term climate and ecological value of this landscape while avoiding future pressures of commercial logging.

• The Empire Riverlands Forest Project protects 47,783 acres of riparian-rich hardwood forests in New York’s western Adirondacks and Tug Hill Plateau. Acquired in 2022 by Aurora Sustainable Lands, the property marks a significant shift in land use, from historically intensive timber harvesting to forest stewardship focused on carbon sequestration and long-term sustainability. With over 187 miles of rivers and streams flowing through its boundaries, the project supports both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, safeguarding habitat and community water resources.

NYRR Team for Climate athletes at the 2025 TCS New York City Marathon will continue to enjoy a sustainable race experience, featuring:

• Participating in a plogging event during race week
• Donating an article of clothing or shoes at the TCS New York City Marathon Expo Presented by New Balance
• Taking the most sustainable transportation option—the Staten Island Ferry—to the start
• Opting out of race-day baggage to reduce plastic waste and emissions
• Using a sustainable start tent powered by solar generators with sustainable catering
• Having the option to opt out of receiving the NYRR Team for Climate branded singlet and/or the official TCS New York City Marathon finisher shirt

New York Road Runners acknowledges offsetting alone will not tackle climate change and can only be credible while also avoiding, reducing, and substituting emissions. New York Road Runners follows the Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Code of Practice by purchasing carbon offsets only while:

•  Measuring our greenhouse gas emissions inventory
• Working toward our Net Zero by 2040 goal
• Fulfilling our reduction efforts: Transitioning to electric vehicles and generators at our events and Energy Star appliances at our facilities

Throughout the year, New York Road Runners works in parallel with vendors and city agency partners to be eco-friendly and divert waste, aiming to leave New York City’s streets and parks cleaner than they were found. New York Road Runners encourages all runners to practice sustainable behaviors year-round at its 60 adult and youth races, including bringing their own clear reusable bags, taking public transportation when possible, utilizing reusable water bottles, air drying their clothing, donating their old shoes, and disposing of gel wrappers following their runs.

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About New York Road Runners (NYRR) A New York City-based nonprofit, New York Road Runners’ vision is to build healthier lives and stronger communities through the transformative power of running – serving nearly a half a million people annually through its races, free community events, youth running initiatives, and school-based programs across the five boroughs. During its nearly 70 years, New York Road Runners has grown from a local running club to the world’s premier community running organization, producing more than 60 adult and youth races each year, including the TCS New York City Marathon. Held the first Sunday each November, the TCS New York City Marathon features more than 50,000 runners—from the world’s best professional athletes to a vast range of runners across experience levels, ages, genders, abilities, and backgrounds. To learn more, visit www.nyrr.org.