Berwick, Scotland: The title sponsors of next week’s Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open will be off-setting the greenhouse gas emissions from travel to the event by all players and caddies.

The co-sanctioned event is being played behind closed doors from August 13-16 at The Renaissance Golf Club, North Berwick.

Working together with ClimateCare, the expert at financing, managing and developing climate projects, Aberdeen Standard Investments is off-setting the greenhouse gas emissions by supporting the accredited Gola Rainforest protection project in Sierra Leone. This will include all the 144 players’ and their caddies’ travel into and out of Scotland.

Aberdeen Standard Investments has committed to supporting the project for the next three years and, as a business, reached its target of becoming carbon neutral this year. The Gola Rainforest is one of the world’s most bio-diverse regions.

Through the project, the business is aiding in the protection of pristine rainforest, home to over 330 species of bird, the rare pygmy hippo and critically endangered western chimpanzees, with further support offered for training for local farmers in sustainable cocoa farming, and investment for schools, hospitals and education.

Sandy MacDonald, Head of Sustainability at Aberdeen Standard Investments, said: “At Aberdeen Standard Investments we invest responsibly, which is why environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations are incorporated into our everyday activities. We are proud to be making a difference through the Ladies Scottish Open and by supporting an amazing project which helps address the issues of climate change and bio-diversity loss. It is one small step as part of a much wider and long-term strategy.”

The field for the 2020 event features three of the world’s top 10 players – American Danielle Kang (number two) Japan’s Nasa Hataoka (fifth) and Australian Minjee Lee (eighth).

In total, 34 countries will be represented in the field including Nigeria’s first-ever LET player Georgia Oboh, as well as a number of international stars who will be joining the tournament ‘bubble’ after travelling from the United States following the successful resumption of the LPGA Tour.

ClimateCare’s Director of Partnerships Robert Stevens said: “We work with forward-thinking organisations to turn their climate responsibilities into positive outcomes. Our trademark Climate+Care approach is helping Aberdeen Standard Investments and the Ladies Scottish Open take a smart approach to addressing their environmental impacts by off-setting their carbon emissions through projects which also support sustainable development.”

This year’s tournament is going ahead as a made-for-TV event following close consultation and collaboration with the Scottish Government, Aberdeen Standard Investments, VisitScotland, the LPGA and the LET, fully adhering to internationally recognised Covid-19 protocol.

The decision to move forward with the 2020 Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open was taken only once organisers and stakeholders could ensure delivery of an event with all relevant safeguarding and protocols in place.

The tournament has a robust operational plan, which has been established with medical and health and safety specialists to make sure that all appropriate measures are in place that meet the high standards required by the Scottish Government as well as adhering to all WHO guidelines.