Green Clay Tennis Courts Sequester 25,000 Tons of CO₂ Annually, Study Shows

**TL;DR** Green clay tennis courts in the United States capture roughly 25,000 metric tons of CO₂ yearly, offsetting emissions equal to taking about 4,200 cars off the road.

## Context Green clay courts are made from crushed basalt, a rock that undergoes enhanced rock weathering when exposed to air and water. This chemical reaction pulls carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and stores it in the mineral structure. Researchers at NYU Gallatin School of Individualized Study analyzed data from 17,178 such courts nationwide to quantify their climate impact.

## Key Facts - The courts collectively remove approximately 25,000 metric tons of CO₂ per year. - Eighty percent of the courts achieve net‑zero emissions within ten years of construction. - On average, a court begins to sequester more CO₂ than it emitted after about 3.5 years.

## What It Means These findings show that green clay surfaces can act as a modest but measurable carbon sink while providing a playing surface. Facility owners considering renovations could weigh the long‑term carbon benefits against the lower upfront emissions of green clay compared to hard courts. The study also notes that lighter‑colored court materials reflect sunlight, offering localized cooling without affecting CO₂ uptake.

What to watch next: whether major tennis organizations such as the USTA, ATP, and WTA incorporate these results into sustainability guidelines and whether more venues adopt green clay for future upgrades or new builds.