Green Clay Tennis Courts Sequester 25,000 Tons of CO₂ Yearly, Study Finds

**TL;DR** Green clay tennis courts in the U.S. collectively remove 25,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually, with most achieving net-zero emissions within a decade.

Green clay tennis courts in the United States actively remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. A recent study highlights these courts' role in carbon sequestration, a process where atmospheric carbon is captured and stored. This environmental benefit stems from the specialized materials used in green clay surfaces.

Researchers Jonathan Lambert, a visiting assistant professor at NYU Gallatin, and Frank J. Pavia, a geochemist from Columbia University, calculated carbon sequestration rates for 17,178 green clay courts across the U.S. Their study quantified both gross and net carbon removal, revealing a significant environmental impact. These courts collectively remove approximately 25,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide each year. This absorption occurs through enhanced rock weathering, a natural process where the basalt rock, which forms green clay surfaces, chemically reacts with atmospheric carbon dioxide, converting it into stable mineral forms.

The study found that 80% of green clay courts achieve net-zero emissions within ten years of their construction. Net-zero emissions indicate the court has absorbed as much carbon dioxide as was emitted during its construction and initial maintenance phases. Furthermore, 92% of these courts reach net-zero status within twenty years. Researchers estimated that individual green clay tennis courts could absorb more carbon than they emit, making them carbon-negative assets over time.

These findings demonstrate that green clay courts offer a tangible method for climate mitigation directly through their material composition. The inherent chemistry of the basalt in these courts facilitates a consistent carbon drawdown. This data provides crucial information for facilities considering renovations or new constructions, allowing them to weigh environmental impact alongside other factors. While this research does not advocate for building vast numbers of new courts, it highlights an overlooked environmental contribution of existing sports infrastructure. Sports organizations globally, including the USTA, ATP, and WTA, may incorporate these insights into their climate awareness and emissions reduction strategies. The study underscores how everyday infrastructure can play a role in addressing climate change.

Future research may broaden this impact by exploring carbon sequestration in other court types, such as red clay, and investigating the wider application of enhanced rock weathering in urban environments.