Sport is both one of the contributors and casualties of global warming. OPPORTUNITIES: THE ROLE OF SPORT IN COMBATTING CLIMATE CHANGE

And it turns out, athletes are rising to the challenge and their contributions can make a difference. But the magnitude of the crisis dictates that solutions must come from every sector, every nation, every voice with an idea. These might appear minor problems that pale against a backdrop of food, energy, and water insecurity, compelling many people to migrate as climate impacts accelerate over the next few decades. From youth leagues to collegiate teams, millions of athletes have already confronted some climate disruptions, and these will only magnify with time. The impact on smaller, more local events is potentially far greater. It must be noted that these are only examples of high-profile sporting events. By 2050, almost one fourth of England football league team’s stadiums (23 out of 92) are projected to be partially or totally flooded every year. During the 2020 Australian Open, poor air quality caused by wildfires forced some tennis players to withdraw from the tournament. In 2018, the high temperatures forced the US Open tennis tournament organizers to offer a “heat-break” to athletes. According to a recent study, approximately half of the former winter Olympic host cities will likely not be able to sponsor winter games by 2050 due to a lack of snow and ice in a warming world. Heavier precipitations, higher sea levels, and the increase in the number of extreme weather events are having disruptive consequences on sport. In a cyclical manner, the sport sector is impacted by the consequences of rising temperatures. These kinds of assessments are even more concerning as they often underestimate the real impact of sport’s carbon footprint, for instance not including the impact of the construction of new stadiums, the water and energy consumed to support events and the food, plastic and other waste produced during events. For example, it has been estimated that the 2016 Rio Olympics released 3.6 million tons of carbon dioxide, while the 2018 Russia World Cup released 2.16 million tons.

The carbon footprint from transportation to/from events, the construction and use of various sporting venues, and the supply chains for sport-related equipment all play an important role in affecting the world’s climate. According to the Rapid Transition Alliance’s report, the global sport sector contributes the same level of emissions as a medium-sized country. Although the influence of sporting organizations on climate is complex and hard to measure, it is broadly recognized that unsustainable practices in sport have further contributed to climate change. There is an increasing acknowledgement of the connection between sport and climate change as sport both affects and is affected by this crisis. CHALLENGES: HOW SPORT AFFECTS AND, IS AFFECTED BY, CLIMATE CHANGE Given the dire situation engulfing our planet, the time to act is now. Its potential as a paradigm of sustainable development has been recognized by both the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and in UN General Assembly resolution A/RES/73/24. With its broad reach spanning diverse human interests, social backgrounds and geographical contexts, sport can contribute to creative, low-cost, high-impact solutions. Sport can play a key role in this process raising awareness, influencing behaviors, and shrinking its carbon footprint. With little time left to prevent or limit catastrophic climate change, there is an urgent need to move from words to actions and ultimately, results. In November 2021, the United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP26, gathered world leaders in an attempt to propel climate action beyond the historic commitments and timetables of the Paris Accord of 2015. On 24 September, the Security Council discussed the climate crisis. The heavy toll of global warming on populations across the globe from rising seas, floods and droughts to fires, heatwaves, and devastating storms, compels governments, civil society, and other stakeholders to come together and confront this reality head on. According to the World Bank Group, even if countries fulfill current emission-reduction pledges, our planet’s mean temperature could rise from 0.8☌ above pre-industrial levels to as high as 4☌ by 2100. Addressing Climate Change Through Sport 2 February 2022 INTRODUCTIONĬlimate change is one of the most pressing issues of our times.

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