Tackle It Together: Championing the people making sport more sustainable

As climate change accelerates, sport at all levels, from grassroot events to elite competitions, are increasingly being disrupted by extreme heat, unpredictable weather patterns, and environmental degradation. 

Climate change isn’t a distant threat, it’s already affecting the world of sport. The impacts are becoming impossible to ignore. 

Athletes are increasingly struggling with extreme heat, stadiums are being destroyed or damaged by flooding, ski seasons are shrinking and unpredictable conditions are disrupting entire sporting seasons and events. 

According to a survey conducted by World Athletics, 75% of elite athletes have reported experiencing health and performance issues linked to climate change and 85% say their sports have experienced adverse climate-related disruptions. 

“Climate change is affecting everybody. Whether it's forest fires, flooding, landslides, we've got problems here…It's on our doorstep.” – Lord Sebastian Coe, President of World Athletics

Without urgent action to reduce emissions and make sport more sustainable, the long-term survival of sport is at risk. The industry, governments, and fans need to adapt and innovate in the face of these mounting challenges. 

This article marks the start of a new series called ‘Tackle It Together’ which will highlight positive, inspiring stories where the world of sport is actively addressing climate change and showcasing how sport can both adapt to and help mitigate the climate crisis and be a force for good.

Follow us on Instagram for more positive news stories and climate inspiration.

1. Petition to stop fossil fuel companies sponsoring winter sports

Before the start of the Winter Olympics, the International Olympic Committee received a petition signed by more than 21,000 people and professional athletes who want to stop fossil fuel companies from sponsoring winter sports. Retreating winters pushed Norwegian skier Nikolai Schirmer to take action by starting the petition and bringing attention to fossil fuel marketing.

A report by the Rapid Transition Alliance highlighted that half of previous Winter Olympic and Paralympic cities would be unable to host the Games by 2050 due to the impact of global warming.

Find out more on the AOL website.

2. Brazilian taekwondo initiative wins Sport Positive Award

The Jadir Taekwondo Association, based in Rio de Janeiro, won an award at the Sport Positive Awards 2025 for its flagship programme, Kicking for Nature, which transforms Taekwondo training into a journey of environmental responsibility.

As part of this programme, students don’t earn new belts only by mastering techniques, but by taking real action for the planet such as planting trees, cleaning up their communities, and leading conversations about climate change. 

Find out more on the Sport and Development website.

3. Ballers4Life launches second ‘Goals for Trees’ campaign

Ballers For Life (B4L), a grassroots football initiative, launched the second edition of its “Goals for Trees” campaign in The Gambia, linking youth football with environmental action. The initiative turns every goal scored and every assist in the B4L U17 Youth League into a tree planted, promoting sustainability and community engagement.

Find out more on the Sport and Development website.

4. FIVB commits to nature-positive sport by signing the Sports for Nature framework

The International Volleyball Federation has made a commitment to sustainability by officially signing the Sports for Nature Framework, becoming part of a growing global movement to protect and restore biodiversity through sport.

The Sports for Nature Framework was developed through a partnership between organisations such as the International Union for Conservation of Nature, International Olympic Committee and United Nations Environment Programme. The framework provides a clear roadmap for sports organisations to take measurable, transformative action for nature across four core principles.

Find out more on the FIVB website.

5. Major decarbonisation work underway at Loughborough’s ‘Pool of Dreams’

Loughborough University has launched a major decarbonisation project to transition its world-renowned swimming pool away from fossil fuels, replacing its gas-fired boiler plant with modern air-source heat pumps.

Loughborough University’s swimming pool has been home to a number of Olympic, Paralympic, and world champions over years, including Adam Peaty, Hannah Moore, Daniel Wiffen, Louise Hansson, and Laura Stephens.

Find out more on the Loughborough University website.

6. Cricket Australia initiatives to help community sport in dealing with climate change

Cricket Australia has taken credit for being the driving force behind the Federal Government's recent funding announcement of $50 million over four years to help community sports clubs take action in dealing with the impacts of climate action.

Modelled on the Cricket for Climate, which the cricketer Pat Cummins founded, the Game On programme will support up to 500 community sports clubs nationwide over the next four years with upgrades such as solar panels, energy efficiency solutions, and infrastructure improvements to withstand extreme weather, and reinvestment of energy savings into grassroots programmes and facilities.

Find out more on the Australian Leisure Management website.

7. ‘A Try, A Tree’ celebrates 1,500 trees planted

Asia Rugby's ‘A Try, A Tree’ initiative, in partnership with Planet Protectors, has now reached a significant milestone. 1,500 indigenous and endangered trees have been planted across Sri Lanka and 507 additional trees are scheduled in the next phase to match tries scored across Asia Rugby tournaments.

Find out more on the Asia Rugby website.

8. West Ham United ‘Shirt Swap’ market stall

At the start of the football season, West Ham United fans had a unique chance to grab one of this season’s shirts for free by trading in an old kit at a ‘shirt swap’ market stall.

Every shirt handed in will be recycled and repurposed by sustainability supplier Birl and the old shirts will be transformed into new West Ham-inspired apparel and accessories, giving them a second life and keeping fabric in circulation.

Find out more on the Essex Magazine website.

9. The new card game linking skiing and sustainability

Winter Trail to Nature is a card game where snow sports and sustainability go hand in hand. Developed by FIS Sustainability and World Cup alpine skier and illustrator Elena Curtoni, the game presents players with questions about nature and sustainability on the slopes to inspire greater environmental awareness, along with challenges that encourage direct engagement with the environment. 

Find out more on the FIS website.

10. ‘Climate Cup’ wins Green Gown Award 

Loughborough University has won an award for its sustainability initiative the ‘Climate Cup’ in the Student Engagement category of the Green Gown Awards which celebrate sustainability initiatives in higher education. 

The Climate Cup is a student-led engagement programme where Loughborough student sports clubs compete to be the most sustainable. The initiative uses the power of competition to combat climate change and restore nature, and was delivered in partnership with Carbon Jacked, a social enterprise that believes "saving the planet shouldn’t be boring".

Find out more on the Loughborough University website.

11. Formula E car debuts climate stripes livery

A Formula E car will feature a design from a University of Reading professor which demonstrates rising temperatures on earth. Each stripe on the climate stripes show a year from 1961 to 2010 displayed chronologically with blue indicating cooler than average years and red showing hotter than average years.

They were designed by Prof Ed Hawkins and have previously featured on Reading Football Club's home shirt in the 2022/23 season. The stripes will feature on the rear wings of the Silverstone-based Envision car for the new season, which starts in Sao Paulo in December.

Find out more on the BBC website.

By Eveline Vouillemin ©