Michael Woods (Israel Start-Up Nation) offsets his own carbon footprint and how he is helping the environment as the COP26 climate change conference in Glasgow continues and professional cyclists become progressively more aware of the damage they are doing to the planet. As the COP26 climate change conference continues and professional cyclists become increasingly aware of the damage they are doing to the planet, they shed further light on how they are working to offset their carbon footprint and help the environment.

Earlier this year, the Canadian calculated that during 2019, his carbon footprint will reach 60 tons of CO2, which is about three times that of the average person in his region.

While the typical emissions of a person living in Andorra range from 12 to 24 tons per year, Woods' footprint is much larger, and a typical man who frequently travels the world for races, receives support from multiple team staff and vehicles, and stays in hundreds of different hotels each season This would indicate a World Tour rider.

"I carbon offset every race. I use a website called Gold Standard to find charities that support carbon offsets. My carbon footprint as a racer is pretty big, so it helps me offset it," Woods recently told Cycling News.

"It's a last resort, and I try to reduce my carbon footprint as much as possible in my daily life. I think my lifestyle used to be pretty good, but now I'm doing new things less. I minimize my household waste and I bike to work in Andorra as much as I can."

"I'm also trying to reduce my carbon footprint.

Woods was inspired to take action by former rider Christian Meyer and former EF Education teammates Alex Howes and Mitch Docker. He now uses his social media platforms to encourage professionals and the public at large to be environmentally conscious and aware of what we can all do. Many teams are also beginning to acknowledge their environmental responsibility and take action.

"Ultimately, what we are doing is a drop in the bucket compared to the wider industrial pollution.

"I wish people who participate in pro-cycling would be more environmentally conscious. That way they can vote based on their own beliefs. When they vote with the environment in mind, real policy changes can happen and things can improve. We all need to do what we can."

Woods recently spoke with Richard Abraham for a pro-cycling special report on pro-cycling and climate emergencies.

When Abraham's article appeared in Cycling News last week, Woods called on social media for the Tour de France and the UCI to lead by example.

His voice has already begun to create some change.

"I'm talking to the UCI and the Israeli Startup Nation to reduce our carbon footprint. For example, the team will be changing its team cars next year: two will be electric cars and the rest will be plug-in hybrid electric cars.

"We are also talking with other sponsors and clothing manufacturer Zynga to find ways to reduce plastic packaging and transportation. I am always disillusioned with how much environmental pollution we are doing as cyclists. At the start of a new season, we receive a lot of product from our sponsors, but it all comes wrapped in plastic and transported. That has to change."

In an article in Procycling, Woods claimed that "the peloton's opinions reflect the world," explaining: "They applauded us and asked how they could help. And when I would show up on the team bus with my ever-present bowl and fork, some of them would tease me and make fun of me.

"My goal is to normalize being environmentally friendly. I'm not going to judge those people who are making fun of me; I'm just trying to make sure that I'm not making fun of them.

"When you're focused on racing and performing, it's easy to neglect things like the environment and focus on your professional career. But since the birth of my children, I've become more aware of the environment. As a result, I realized I had to further improve my behavior and use my platform as a rider to affect as much change as possible."