The United Nations has presented Forest Green with a “Momentum for Change” climate action award after they became the first football club in the world to go carbon neutral at the start of the season.

The League Two club signed up to the UNFCCC Climate Neutral Now initiative for the upcoming season to become a certified carbon neutral club.

They were awarded the award at a ceremony in New York on Thursday night as part of Climate Week.

Forest Green chairman Dale Vince, who spoke at the event, said: “We’re pretty chuffed to have this recognition from the United Nations for our work in promoting sustainability through sport.

“Plenty of people doubted we could make this improbable combination of a football club and the environment work, but it’s proven to be a powerful combination.

“We’ve reached over three billion people in the last year with our story and our messaging and all around the world people have become fans of FGR because of the stand we take on environmental issues – we now have fan clubs in over 20 different countries.

“We’ve created a new kind of football club and a new kind of fan, people who are fans of football and the environment.”

Two years ago, Rovers became the world’s only vegan football club after making the switch to a plant-based diet for all players, fans, staff and events at The New Lawn.

Their efforts also include an organic pitch, electric car chargers, the installation of solar panels and a solar-powered robot lawnmower.

Executive secretary of UN Climate Change Patricia Espinosa added: “These activities shine a light on scalable climate action around the world.

“They are proof that climate action isn’t only possible, it’s innovative, it’s exciting and it makes a difference.”