Charting global and Indian efforts in climate action through sports

Sport is emerging as a platform for sustainability, with initiatives worldwide recognizing its role in advancing climate action. The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA)’s report outlined four ways in which sport can be mobilized for climate action: 

• By being a powerful social platform influencing public attitudes across diverse communities;
• By being a medium for spreading awareness and education about climate change and action;
• By being a tool to contribute to broader sustainability goals;
• And by being an influencing agent through integration of sustainability standards in the sports industry and creating a ripple effect across other sectors.  

Across the globe, sport-related organizations and events are working to reduce their carbon footprint and engage audiences in climate awareness. While global initiatives set a strong precedent, India’s approach to climate action in sport reflects its unique challenges and priorities. This article explores the similarities and differences between climate action efforts in sport globally and in India.  

Global initiatives

Internationally, climate action in sport is often guided by structural policies, with organizations like the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’s (UNFCCC) Sports for Climate Action Initiative providing clear sustainability frameworks. Countries with well-established sports governance, such as Germany and the UK, have national policies that mandate sustainable practices in sports events and infrastructure. 

Mega sporting events like the Olympics and the FIFA World Cup have set benchmarks for climate action, integrating carbon offsets programs, waste reduction measures, and renewable energy usage. For example, the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar aimed for carbon neutrality,  while the 2024 Paris Olympics committed to a 50% reduction in carbon emissions compared to previous editions. 

Sports organizations have prioritized eco-friendly stadiums, renewable energy adoption, and carbon-neutral certifications. European and North American leagues have focussed on integrating energy-efficient stadiums, sustainable materials, and public transport solutions.  In North America, the NFL exemplifies this commitment through its ‘NFL Green’ program, which aims to reduce the league’s carbon footprint through sustainable practices.    

At the grassroots level, global efforts emphasize community engagement and education. Around the world, programs integrate climate action into sports-based community outreach, with initiatives focussing on carbon literacy, environmental stewardship, and building climate-resilient communities.  For example, the Grootbos Foundation in South Africa uses sports as a platform to promote conservation education, sustainable livelihoods, and environmental awareness among young people.

Indian Initiatives: 

In India, policies promoting climate action in sports are still evolving. While key stakeholders across the board, from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to Bengaluru FC, have taken steps towards integrating sustainable practices, there is yet to be a comprehensive framework that covers climate action in sports at the national level. Many initiatives are led by private entities, NGOs, with some being community-driven projects as well. 

Climate action in major sporting events is an emerging focus area. The Indian Premier League (IPL) has started integrating waste management and energy efficiency initiatives, but large-scale sustainability planning is still not a fundamental part of event organization. Ladakh Football Club’s Climate Cup is an example of how Indian sports events can merge climate action with competition, but such efforts remain localized rather than mainstream. 

Although sports infrastructure and energy efficiency initiatives are gradually incorporating sustainability measures, they are still in a nascent stage. Cricket stadiums across the country have adopted measures like rainwater harvesting, solar panels, and eco-friendly turf management. However, the scale and consistency of such practices remain limited compared to global efforts. 

Grassroot sports initiatives are increasingly integrating climate action, using sports as a platform to promote environmental sustainability and community resilience. Dakshin Foundation’s Sports and Community Wellbeing Program integrates sports with social and environmental awareness. Tanjun Associate LLP has also been instrumental in advancing climate action through sports. Their Enterprise 365 project focuses on training marginalized women to produce sustainable sports equipment. Additionally, in collaboration with the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), the organization has used table tennis as a vehicle to raise awareness about the environment and worked on ensuring that environmental responsibility is embedded in sports manufacturing. Youth Football Club (YFC Rurka Kalan) is another example. Based in Punjab, they have been using football as a tool for community development and environmental awareness. The club has taken several steps to reduce its carbon footprint while engaging youth in sustainability efforts alongside sports training.

The opportunities ahead

Indian efforts, alongside global trends, are moving towards structured policies, financial support and an increasing amount of international collaboration. Within this context, India’s grassroots movement presents a unique opportunity to develop climate action from the community level upward, rather than relying solely on top-down initiatives. At the policy level, formulating a national framework that encourages sustainable practices in sports infrastructure, events, and manufacturing will be helpful. Simultaneously, climate action can be localized by supporting community-led initiatives, engaging youth as climate ambassadors, and scaling projects that link livelihoods with green sports practices. A collaborative approach where grassroots and professional sports work together to create a comprehensive strategy for addressing climate change, ensuring sports are recognized as both an awareness tool and an agent of change will be crucial for the road ahead. 

About the author

Vijay Kataria is a Sports for Transformation Fellow with the Dani Sports Foundation. He is currently interning with the Sports and Society Accelerator, where he is exploring the intersection of sports and climate action.