Sport England Chair says that sport must lead the way on climate change

Attending COP29 in Azerbaijan, Sport England Chair, Chris Boardman delivered a speech on Monday making the case for sport to be at the heart of global climate change policies.

Mr Boardman wants the sports sector to lead the way. This is due to the sectors immense reach through local sports clubs that are embedded in every community, and the power of sporting star personalities to advocate on a global level.

The former Olympic cycling champion said, "Sport brings out the best in us. Muddy kickabouts, weekly swimming and gym classes that turn strangers into friends. The atmosphere of pride that permeates the public mood when a national team is doing well – and the carnival of joy that’s unleashed if we win, people leaping off pub benches and into each other’s arms – is testament to its power to connect.

"At a community level, there are more than 75,000 sports clubs in England alone. Situated in every neighbourhood, village, town and city across the country, grassroots clubs provide an unparalleled ‘delivery network’. These clubs did not cause the climate crisis, but they can be part of the solution."

For a full report, please see the link below