WHAT ABOUT SPORT? Driving emissions or driving action?

Sport inspires, builds communities, promotes healthy lifestyles, and brings joy to millions around the world. But while sport is a powerful force for good, it is both a contributor to – and a victim of – climate change.

In this episode, James and Daisy explore the intersection of sport and climate change. How does sport contribute to climate change? In what ways is climate change already affecting sport? How can sport drive meaningful climate action?

SOME RECOMMENDATIONS:

• Forest Green Rovers – Officially recognised in 2017 as the world’s first vegan football club and widely considered the greenest football club globally.
• World Economic Forum (2024) – An overview of how climate change is affecting sports, including how the Paris 2024 Olympics balanced athlete performance with safety.

OTHER ADVOCATES AND RESOURCES:

• Forbes (2025) – Examines how the Women’s Euro 2025 is balancing growth, sustainability and climate risk. Switzerland has secured second-class travel for all ticketholders on match days and added 400 extra trains to ensure reliability.
• Cricket for Climate – Founded by Australian cricket captain, Pat Cummins, to use cricket as a platform to fight climate change.
• The Next Test – A hub for climate concerned cricket players, clubs, and fans.
• Sport England (2025) – Chairman Chris Boardman has called for a ‘mindset shift’ on climate change and announced a new multi-million-pound fund to create the ‘world’s greenest sports industry’.
• Arsenal (2018) – Installed a large-scale battery storage system capable of powering the Emirates Stadium for an entire match.
• Formula E – An all-electric, single-seater motorsport series.
• Healthy Waters Alliance – A joint initiative between World Rowing and WWF to protect freshwater ecosystems.

SOME FACTS:

• “Sportswashing” – The practice of an organization, a government, etc. supporting sport or organizing sports events as a way to improve its reputation.
• European Climate Pact (2024) – The 2016 Rio Olympics released 3.6 million tons of CO2, while the 2018 Russia World Cup released 2.16 million tons – equivalent to the emissions of 465,000+ cars on the road for a year.
• BBC (2025) – Next year's World Cup in the US, Canada and Mexico is set to be "the most climate-damaging" in the tournament's history, driven by air travel and a significant increase in the number of matches.
• European Climate Pact (2024) – Half of the former Winter Olympic host cities could be unable to sponsor winter games by 2050, due to a lack of snow and ice.
• BBC (2023) – The Alps in northwest Switzerland experienced temperatures of 20.9C over Christmas and New Year.
• New Scientist (2024) – By 2100, one in eight ski resorts worldwide could have no snow.
• Green Football – 100,000 tonnes of sportswear ends up in UK landfills annually – enough for 2,500 pieces per person in a packed Wembley stadium.
• The Guardian (2025) – Tennis fans faced the hottest start to Wimbledon on record this year as temperatures soared to 32C.
• US Open (2018) – The US Tennis Association implemented an ‘extreme heat policy’ to allow players periodic breaks during high temperatures.
• ScienceNews (2023) – Climate change has caused more than 500 home runs since 2010.
• World Athletics (2022) – 75% of athletes have experienced a direct negative impact from climate change on their health and performance.
• Rapid Transition Alliance (2020) – One in three British Open golf courses will be damaged by rising sea levels.
• Politico (2016) – Trump tried to build a sea wall to protect one of his golf courses from “global warming and its effects.”
• Olympics (2024) – The Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024 achieved a 54.6% reduction in carbon emissions compared to previous editions.

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Music: “Just Because Some Bad Wind Blows” by Nick Nuttall, Reptiphon Records. Available at https://nicknuttallmusic.bandcamp.com/album/just-because-some-bad-wind-blows-3

Producer: Podshop Studios

Huge thanks to Siobhán Foster, a vital member of the team offering design advice, critical review and organisation that we depend upon.

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