The sports community needs a healthy planet to survive. Whether it be local running groups or Olympic athletes, we all depend on clean air, reasonable ambient temperatures, water availability, food security and many nature-based resources to participate in sport or to train for mental and physical peak condition. Worsening climate conditions will challenge the health and safety of athletes and recreational exercisers at all levels, and potentially lead to less opportunity to participate in physical activity and sport.1 2

Evidence is emerging that sport is a significant contributor to global emissions and harmful environmental impacts.3 4 Sporting mega-events have left a significant footprint through waste and emissions from construction at scale, climate-poor stadium designs, internationalisation of travel and unsustainable event management choices such as single use plastics in hospitality.5 Consumerism has been encouraged at a global scale among sporting fans, impacting landfill, carbon emissions, water quality and proliferation of microplastics.6 Some would question whether the number and size of major and mega sports events are in fact justifiable, given the scale of the climate crisis, at least until they can be net carbon neutral.

Turning the climate tide is an urgent priority. This commentary examines the unique role that sport can play as a pivotal …