Sport and Environment News - December
Access all the latest news and resources in the sport and sustainability space, carefully curated by SEA, right here in one convenient place.
INDUSTRY NEWS
London Marathon Events Deepens Climate Commitment
London Marathon Events (LME), the world’s leading mass-participation events organiser and the first-ever sports buyer of carbon removals, has signed its third deal with CUR8. LME will purchase 1,935 tonnes of carbon removals from the global carbon removals market maker to support its progress to net zero.
FIS-WMO webinar sheds a light on the dynamics between climate change and ski tourism
The partnership between FIS and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), announced in October, is starting to bear fruit.
The knowledge and expertise of the United Nations’ specialized agency has begun to be put at the service of the snow sports ecosystem with a webinar for all 137 National Ski Associations, as well as FIS staff, venue managers and event organizers.
The Role Of Sports Tech In Achieving Environmental Sustainability
As the dangers of climate change grow, the pressing need for sports tech developments geared toward sustainability is gaining prominent attention. While sports have always been undeniably exciting and inspiring, the environmental impact of sports, particularly regarding carbon emissions, is a growing concern. An estimate shows that the major sports leagues like the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB account for about 35,000 tonnes of annual carbon emissions, which merely covers the fans’ emissions.
Read more
Is it safe to exercise in extreme heat and smoky skies?
As heat waves, wildfires and smoke-choked skies become commonplace for more communities, it’s important to safely adjust your outdoor exercise to the new realities of climate change.
Dr. Michael Koehle, a professor of sport and exercise medicine at the UBC faculty of medicine, discusses how to tell if it’s safe to exercise outside and what to do when conditions become extreme.
The award winning sports kit recycling scheme
The Leeds Equipment and Kit Exchange Partnership (LEKEP), created by Leeds City Council’s Active Leeds (Get Set Leeds Local) service with Yorkshire Sport Foundation, sees recycled or unwanted sports kit distributed to priority communities in the city.
Since the partnership began kit has made its way via community partners and schools to a number of residents in South Leeds, who may for various reasons struggle to have access or afford sports kit
Female footballers rally against FIFA’s deal with Aramco over environmental concerns
More than 100 professional female footballers have called on the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) to halt its sponsorship deal with Saudi Aramco, an oil company, over environmental concerns.
In an open letter to Gianni Infantino, FIFA president, the players questioned the company’s commitment to sustainability, given its “record of global pollution and lobbying against climate action”.
The players also highlighted issues of human rights violations, particularly against women.
After her career as a top mountain bike racer, Manon Carpenter became involved in climate activism. Since then, this has evolved into a vision of a completely reframed sport.
Just as dwindling snow seasons and receding glaciers impact winter sports, mountain biking faces challenges from a changing climate. Between November 2021 and February 2022, powerful storms ravaged the UK, devastating communities and forests alike. Manon Carpenter documented these events in her film “Winds of Change – Soil Searching,” spotlighting communities in Northumberland and Aberdeenshire as they adapt to climate fluctuations, striving for a sustainable future for their trails and woodlands.
Will Climate Change Cost the 2026 FIFA World Cup US$800m?
Climate X research finds that FIFA World Cup Venues are at risk of losses up to US$800m by 2050 due to climate change, particularly in Florida.
The research, conducted using Climate X’s Spectra platform, assessed 37 FIFA stadiums for exposure to 10 major climate hazards, including: surface flooding and tropical cyclones.
The report, which covers 2020 to 2050 under the high-emissions RCP 8.5 climate scenario, shows that financial losses for the stadiums will grow at pace, from US$130m in 2020 to an estimated US$800m by 2050.
CLIMATE CHANGE & SUSTAINABILITY NEWS
World way off target in tackling climate change - UN
Global efforts to tackle climate change are wildly off track, says the UN, as new data shows that warming gases are accumulating faster than at any time in human existence.
Current national plans to limit carbon emissions would barely cut pollution by 2030, the UN analysis shows, leaving efforts to keep warming under 1.5C this century in tatters.
The update comes as a separate report shows that greenhouse gases have risen by over 11% in the last two decades, with atmospheric concentrations surging in 2023.
2024 set to break Aussie heat record, as global temperatures cross 1.5C threshold
Global temperatures are predicted to reach 1.5C above pre-industrial levels for the first time ever this year – a threshold that scientists have long cautioned would bring a more extreme, unpredictable climate.
From heatwaves to flooding rains, 2024 has been a year of wild weather for the planet, and Australia did not come out unscathed.
More than 1600 extreme weather events were recorded across the country, ranging from floods, bushfires, heat events, and even cyclones.
How climate change will make your life more expensive
The impacts of climate change extend beyond the environment – global warming is also hitting people in their wallets.
From rising insurance premiums to increased energy bills and grocery prices, the economic impacts are wide-ranging. The financial burden of climate change also has the potential to infiltrate our finances in other, more subtle ways.
Here’s how the warming planet could significantly drive up day-to-day costs.
Migration of tiger moths reflective of climate change
JERSEY tiger moths are moving further north in a “clear sign” of climate change.
The species, which as its name suggests is common in the Channel Islands, was once a rare sight in the UK.
But the insect has since colonised the south coast and can now be found as far north as Bedfordshire.
Warmer winters have allowed the caterpillars to survive and are believed to be helping the species spread, according to a report in the Guardian.
Climate changed: Why our scientists are having to redefine ‘normal’ in 2024
Global warming is forcing scientists to redefine what New Zealand’s “normal” climate is - as a separate analysis suggests what it could eventually mean for our wettest and driest days.
Our average temperature has warmed by more than 1.1C within little over a century, with scientists observing fewer frosts, shrinking glaciers, more hot days and intense downpours bearing a climate change handprint.
ASAP Cheat Sheet: A guide to sustainability communication in the sport sector
Why is communication important for any sustainability programme or strategy? Simply put, it will make or break any sustainability program.
SandSI resource library
Explore global case studies in sport and sustainability in the Sport and Sustainability International (SandSI) resource library.
Sport Ecology Group resources
The Sport Ecology Group, a collective of industry experts & researchers, have created a site with various educational and research opportunities.
Click here for more information.
Olympic Games Sustainability Essentials
The Olympic Games has launched Sustainability Essentials, an informative series of guides to help Olympic teams manage sustainability programmes.
Do you want to know what to do and how to start your eco journey?
The Future proofing community sport & recreation facilities: A roadmap for climate change management for the sport and recreation facilities sector resources can help support your journey. Free to use!
This project was developed by the Sports Environment Alliance in partnership with the Victorian Government.
UNFCCC Sport for Climate Action Framework
We encourage you to become a signatory of the UNFCCC Sport for Climate Action Framework. Join a global network of sport leaders who will engage and enact the five (5) principles of the framework.t
7 key things to know about the upcoming Australian climate-related financial disclosure requirements
While the details are still being finalised, thousands of companies will need to start reporting from July 2024 for the 2025 financial year (FY25), so the clock is ticking to get prepared.
In this blog, we'll share 7 things you need to know about the reporting requirements proposed for Australian companies, including the key differences with the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) S1 and S2 that were finalised in mid 2023.
Where should clubs start?
Claire Poole talks about how sports clubs can get started on their sports sustainability journey. From data collection, taking action, procurement, partnerships, connecting with internal colleagues and external experts and more.
