Football and climate change: How does the sport become more sustainable?
New York TimesAs football continues to expand, so does its impact on the climate. Providing the infrastructure to enable fans to make those decisions will massively cut clubs’ emissions and have a legacy outside of football. Climate can be very abstract and can feel quite alien in football so it’s important that when clubs do engage they do it in a creative way so that the story of environmental sustainability, conservation or climate action is tied to the local area or the identity of the club. As one of the largest chunks of the emissions associated with elite football, better coordination between national, local government and football clubs could be a really powerful catalyst for improving low-carbon transport options and addressing issues such as air pollution. Encouraging more fans to use public transport is key I’ve heard from some clubs that have tried to introduce free or subsidised public transport on game days have come up against a variety of challenges.
History of this topic
Athletes see climate change as threatening their sports and their health. Some are speaking up
Associated Press
Football’s greenest club had dreams that weren’t sustainable. The hope is they are recyclable
New York Times
From the grassroots to the elite, sport is already feeling the impacts of climate change, so why aren’t peak bodies prepared?
ABC
IPL, an opportunity to bat for climate action
The Hindu
The Football Sustainability Index: How well run is your club?
New York Times
UK clubs join forces for annual Green Football Weekend to encourage climate action from fans
The Independent
Floods, fires and why football can play a big role in tackling climate change
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