A SUSTAINABLE LEGACY
David Stern’ s legacy of sustainability is one of the more underappreciated parts of his legacy as NBA Commissioner. When he helped to set up NBA Green in 2007, he brought together environmental organisations to address climate change through the incomparable cultural influence of sport. Stern put resources towards monitoring the energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions of all the NBA’ s venues, while he also had a hand in promoting fan education on sustainability through the league’ s media channels. The seeds sown by David and his close-knit team went on to grow into recycling, composting and renewable energy programmes across the NBA. Since 2007, those initiatives have become essential parts of what it means to be a part of the NBA. David recognised sport’ s unique power to advance environmental literacy, greening marquee events including the All- Star Game and Finals. With the help of Allen, Kathy and countless others, he helped to weave sustainability together with social justice, embedding those values in the NBA’ s DNA. sustainabilitymag. com 93