Norway's round of the World Rally Championship, which kicks off today, is among the major sporting events around the world to join the Climate Neutral Network (CN Net), an initiative led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to promote global action and involvement towards low-carbon economies and societies.

Often likened to a "Winter Dakar," the annual Rally Norway motorsports event counts 43 teams this year racing against each other on iced-over and snow-covered tracks. The 2009 edition, which will be held from 12-15 February in Hamar, aims to be the first "emission-neutral" rally.

Launched a year ago, the CN Net today has close to 100 participants worldwide, including several countries, cities, major international companies, UN agencies and leading NGOs.

Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary-General and UNEP Executive Director, said: "Whether carried out on track and field or on ice and snow, sporting events ignite the spirit of achievement in thousands of competitors and billions of spectators worldwide. It is therefore heartening that this passion for excellence increasingly encompasses environmental performance, with sporting organizations raising the bar ever higher at each and every tournament."

"By joining UNEP's Climate Neutral Network, they challenge themselves and others to champion the climate change cause through one of the most powerful catalyzing forces on the planet - sport," he added.

Rally Norway's General Manager Even Wiger declared: "Rally Norway aims to be the driving force to change motorsports to a low-carbon sport. The drivers are role models, and the races are test labs for new technology and more low-carbon fuels. Our objectives are to be a driving force to make all World Rally Championships climate neutral, and hopefully this will influence the car production and the fuel production to low-carbon cars in general."

The organizers of Rally Norway have pledged to fully compensate for greenhouse gas emissions resulting from fuel used by competing vehicles, logistical support, and air and road travel, and are challenging competitors and other organizations involved in the 2009 Rally Championship to join them.

Rally Norway 2009 will also feature a "Green Room" where new technologies for low-carbon vehicles and fuels will be featured.