Environment and sustainability

How can sport contribute to meeting environmental challenges? What does climate change mean for the future of sport?

In recent years, there have been dire warnings about climate change. In November 2022, world leaders reaffirmed their commitment to limiting global temperature increases to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. However, the latest science suggests this will require a 45% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, and we are currently on track for an increase of 2.5°C by the end of the century.

We are already seeing the effects of climate change, from shrinking sea ice and melting glaciers to ever more intense heatwaves and more regular droughts. The consequences are considerable and contribute, among other things, to increasing food insecurity, forced migration and poverty.

As the world grapples with the effects of climate change, it is important to think about how sport, as a powerful global phenomenon, can contribute to both the problem and its solutions. Throughout this section, we will delve into various aspects of the relationship between sport and climate change. We will explore the impact of sport on the environment, the consequences of climate change on sport, what sport stakeholders are doing to cope and some future challenges.

Follow the links below to learn more about this important topic:

1. Sport and environment: a team game
2. Making sport more sustainable
3. Community Engagement and Education
4. Advocacy and action
5. Policy
6. Key Resources
7. Community articles: Responses to our call for articles on sport and the environment

Image from the United Nations Environment Program https://www.unep.org/