How Shelton wants to use his platform to promote sustainability

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Ben Shelton is only 21, but the American star has already made a priority of caring for the environment and helping to create a more sustainable future.

Shelton finished second on the 2023 Carbon Tracker leaderboard, offsetting all 28 of his tournament trips for the season.

“Coming onto the Tour last year I experienced just how much travel is involved with being a pro. We’re pretty much on the road all the time,” Shelton said. “The impact that’s having on the environment is hard to miss, especially when you play in certain places with crazy heat or where the weather impacts play.

“I started using Carbon Tracker as a way of doing something positive. Travel is a part of our job and the app makes it super simple to track and offset those emissions. I think it’s a really good starting point.”

The lefty is competing this week at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC, an ATP 500 held in Acapulco. The city is recovering from the damage caused by Hurricane Otis.

“It’s not the first moment, but seeing Hurricane Otis hitting Acapulco last year always sticks in my mind. That’s a community that has given so much to professional tennis and it was tough seeing what they went through,” Shelton said. “These kinds of natural disasters are becoming more frequent. As athletes we have a platform. I’m going to keep learning and doing what I can. If that can motivate even one person to get more invested in this topic, then that’s a win.”

By finishing second in the 2023 Carbon Tracker, Shelton earned a $30,000 donation from the ATP to an organisation of his choice. He selected High Impact Athletes’ Environmental Portfolio, which supports the most effective climate initiatives, focussed on emissions reduction, clean air and agriculture innovation.

HIA, founded by tennis player Marcus Daniell, connects professional athletes with the most cost-effective, evidence-based charities in the world.

“I like their vision of getting the most value out of every dollar donated. I think that’s really interesting and gives you that assurance that your donation is making a difference,” Shelton said. “The fact that it was started by another tennis player is also cool. When you look at the athletes that have gotten behind the organisation from all these different sports you can see how that vision is resonating. I’m proud to support.”

Daniell said: “I'm excited and honoured to have a player of Ben's calibre support our High Impact Athletes Environmental Portfolio. The fact that Ben was a winner of the ATP’s Carbon Tracker prize pool is a testament to his conscientiousness, and the fact that he is donating the prize to such a highly impactful set of charities is a testament to his selflessness and smarts. We couldn't have thought of a more apt role model for young athletes to look up to, both on the court and in the charity space. Bravo, Next Gen!”

What would Shelton’s message to fans be about why they should care about sustainability and doing their part for the environment?

“Everyone is different and has different reasons for caring. Sustainability is a big topic!” Shelton said. “I guess my message would be don’t let the fact that you’re not an expert discourage you. I’m still new to sustainability but really enjoying the journey of learning and getting involved.”