The International Skating Union (ISU) is taking another step this week in its pledge to advance sustainability and reduce its environmental impact across all ice sport environments as delegates from the organization join the second edition of the “New Energy for Arenas” Conference in Tampere (FIN), hosted in collaboration with the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF).

Building on the success of the inaugural the “New Energy for Ice Rinks and Arenas” conference in Berlin (GER), the ISU is once again joining forces with the IIHF to bring together key global stakeholders committed to the future of sustainable ice sports facilities.

The Conference gathers arena owners and operators, municipalities, federations, engineers, architects, sustainability experts, researchers, and industry leaders for wide-ranging discussion on sustainable and innovative approaches to arena development (see full program below).

ISU President Jae Youl Kim said: “It’s our responsibility to work towards the development of sustainable ice rinks to ensure a brighter, more durable future for skating. Collaboration with the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) and knowledge-sharing with technical experts is key for us to make a meaningful difference together.”

The ISU recently outlined details of its Sustainability Strategy during an event held on the sidelines of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan (read here), keeping true to its commitments through ISU Vision 2030 to develop energy-efficient rinks and eco-friendly maintenance solutions. 

This event was supported by members of the ISU’s Environmental Sustainability Working Group, including Olympic gold medal Speed Skater Esmee Visser (NED), who is part of the ISU delegation in Finland and will deliver a speech at the opening of the conference. 

Fans of global skating will have all eyes on Tampere in 2027 as the city – widely recognized as the home of Finnish ice hockey – hosts the ISU World Figure Skating Championships. 

For further information about the ISU’s framework and initiatives to promote more efficient ice rink operations and responsible event delivery, please consult the ISU Sustainability Policy and the ISU Sustainability Event Guidelines.