This summer, nearly half of the world’s population will tune into sporting events ranging from the Euros to the Olympics. Our collective love of sports means that throughout history the sector has played an important role in bringing awareness to key issues and, when harnessed for good, can promote a greener and healthier future for us all.
Sportswashing or genuine change?
Major sports events can drive global awareness when they take real climate action - emissions from Euros’ 2024 were comparatively smaller to the much larger 2022 Qatar World Cup (which had a footprint 5x larger than any other before it.) And Paris has committed to delivering a carbon-neutral event by using 100% renewable energy during the Olympics and implementing extensive public transport options to reduce travel emissions.
But organizers also need to be held accountable for ‘sportswashing’ when they fall short, including making sponsorship deals with big polluters. Both the Euros and Olympics have proudly stated that they are the greenest in history; but by allowing companies like Coca-Cola, the biggest plastic polluter in the world (and currently the subject of a ClientEarth campaign) to be a main sponsor, it undermines its efforts to be “green”.
Supporting green sports leaders
Some football clubs are already leading the way when it comes to embracing more sustainable practices and ensuring strict policies about who sponsors them. For example, Ecosia supports UK-based Forest Green Rovers, who have been recognized by the United Nations as the world’s first carbon-neutral football club.
From powering their stadium entirely by renewable energy, encouraging fans to use public transport, cycle, or carpool, providing EV charging stations at stadiums, eradicating single-use plastics and swapping out meat for plant-based alternatives, FGR’s sustainable practices offer a blueprint for other football clubs. Even the pitch is maintained without harmful chemicals, using organic composts and a robotic lawnmower powered by solar energy.
These changes have not only saved the club thousands in costs but grown a culture of sustainability among fans and the local community. As the world continues to grapple with the climate crisis, more sporting events should take a leaf out of FGR’s book and take simple steps to lead the way toward a greener and healthier future for us all.
