Integrating sport with climate resilience: what community and individuals can do

Sport ecology is a relatively new field that focuses on the relationship between sport and environmental sustainability. It is centered on exploring the impact of sport on the natural environment and how sport organizations and individuals can reduce their negative impact and promote sustainability.

Though climate change will impact geographical areas differently, everyone must be aware of the consequences, know how to identify the risks related to global warming and try to reverse the tendency with the tools at their disposal. 

Climate vulnerability in sport can be addressed at several levels: the industry level, the institutional level, the organizational level, and the individual level. We will focus on the latter and the institutional one to highlight some considerations necessary for raising awareness of the situation and providing concrete examples of how the community can act. Indeed, by making some changes and adjusting some behaviours it is possible for everyone to contribute to the sustainability of our planet and sport activities can help us in this transformation. Moreover, a better understanding of the current environmental situation provides us with the opportunity to build resilience to climate change, enhance the capacity for response avoiding disempowerment and patronization, and has the potential to affect policy makers’ decisions. 

First and foremost, those who practice physical activities should be aware of climate change-related health risks so that they can then be educated on preventative measures with specific tips based on the different sports. Some sports may require education regarding heat risks, hydration, managing exertion, proper sport clothes, and diet, other sports may emphasize accident risks which could be mitigated by education in extreme weather events and first aid. 

In order to provide the most complete education on this topic, it is recommended a top-down approach involving information on national and international umbrella organizations’ websites, centralized and decentralized continuing education of sport managers, and advanced educational videos and articles on local club’s websites. 

Besides health, another area of education that should be developed is the circular economy. Sport activities are often related to an excessive consumerism of sport items: from clothes to all kind of equipment. One way to support environmental conservation could be by reducing buying and selling and improving the second-hand sports market, potentially organized by the big brands themselves or by the local community. Although there are already some virtuous examples, they are still very few and are not promoted enough.

Another aspect of sports related to global warming that should be considered is transportation. In fact, participation in sports and other forms of physical activity has been always linked to improved health and quality of life, but it can also have different positive externalities such as boosting environmental perceptions and lowering CO2 emissions via the reduction of transport-related carbon emissions. Taking into consideration that about 26% of global emissions come from transportation-related activities, walking, cycling or using public transports, when possible, can improve the quality of the natural world. The increasing use of public transport and bicycles can influence policymakers’ decisions on public roads, leading to investments in cycle paths and improvements in public transport. Along with the North European countries, a positive example is provided by China’s coastal regions where the integration of sport exercise into daily habits is helping one of the world’s largest emissions-producing countries build  resilience to climate change and reduce health expenditures. 

A shift in the global perspective on climate change has the potential to influence economic and environmental policies at both national and international levels, persuading policymakers to engage in proactive and concrete actions. Partnerships between the public sector and non-profit sport-related organizations should be encouraged to protect the natural environment, with initiatives like the World Surfing Reserve serving as a model for such collaborations. In fact, the World Surfing Reserve promotes the use of natural resources for social causes in the form of sports, while emphasizing the responsibility to preserve the quality of nature.

To sum up, given the current environmental situation and future climate prospects, everyone should take action by implementing mitigation strategies, and sport activities can be a tool in the fight against global climate change. Communities and individuals are key actors in the integration of sport with climate resilience fostering a better education and greater awareness on the topic; promoting circular economy systems in the sports sector; avoiding unnecessary use of cars and motorcycles; and lobbying for green sports policies.

References 

Sport versus climate: Introducing the climate vulnerability of sport organizations framework. Orr Madeleine, Inoue Yuhei (2018). Sport Management Review, Vol 22, Issue 4, pp. 452-463. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smr.2018.09.007

How can outdoor sports protect themselves against climate change-related health risks? – A prevention model based on an expert Delphi study. Sven Schneider, Marlen Niederberger, Luke Kurowski, Luisa Bade (2023). Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport. Volume 27, Issue 1, pp. 37-44. How can outdoor sports protect themselves against climate change-related health risks? – A prevention model based on an expert Delphi study – ScienceDirect

Integrating climate resilience with sports, exercise, and public health expenditures on sustainable environment: Evidence from coastal regions of China. Bo Li (2024). Environmental Research. Volume 251 part 2. Integrating climate resilience with sports, exercise, and public health expenditures on sustainable environment: Evidence from coastal regions of China – ScienceDirect

Environmental sustainability in sport: a systematic literature review. Rubiana Cury, Millicent Kennelly & Michael Howes (2022). European Sport Management Quarterly. https://doi.org/10.1080/16184742.2022.2126511

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