California Resources Corporation (CRC) and the Los Angeles Rams have marked the first year of their joint “Football Without the Footprint” initiative, which aims to reduce and offset the football team’s carbon emissions. The program focuses on decarbonization while providing environmental and community benefits in Los Angeles.
CRC has developed projects throughout Los Angeles that are independently certified to cut carbon emissions and create verified environmental products. In 2025, CRC assessed the Rams’ energy consumption and travel-related emissions. Based on this analysis, CRC created a portfolio of environmental products that were retired for the Rams to reflect verified emission reductions and help balance the team’s carbon footprint. The Rams are now recognized as the first NFL team in California to purchase locally sourced credits.
The partnership’s first year achievements include several steps:
– For team travel, CRC provided MiQ-certified low-carbon crude oil certificates matching the jet fuel used by the Rams for away games. These certificates represent a reduction in upstream emissions from jet fuel because CRC’s production is 54% less carbon-intensive than California’s average.
– For home operations, CRC supplied MiQ-certified low-carbon natural gas certificates equivalent to what is used at team facilities. This gas achieved MiQ’s top Grade A rating for methane intensity.
– High-integrity carbon offsets were delivered through credits from an industrial emissions avoidance project in Huntington Beach, where oil and gas production is voluntarily stopped permanently. These credits received an “A.pre” ex ante rating from BeZero Carbon, indicating very low project execution risk.
– Additional credits came from a forestry project supporting the Colorado River Basin, which supplies over one-third of Southern California’s drinking water.
Beyond cutting emissions, “Football Without the Footprint” also seeks to involve fans and local communities in learning about carbon management while promoting sustainable energy practices within California.
Francisco Leon, President and CEO of CRC, said: “The Rams are a fantastic partner, committed to supporting local, low-carbon solutions that directly benefit our shared community. This first year demonstrates that professional sports can lead the way in decarbonization while driving positive environmental and social impact.”
Jason Griffiths, Senior Vice President of Partnerships for the Los Angeles Rams added: “We are thrilled with the progress we’ve seen during the first year of this initiative. Working with CRC, we are implementing innovative carbon management solutions that align the team’s operations with the priorities of our communities and fans.”
