UNEP: Sports Must Be Either a Climate Ally or Risk Becoming One of Its Major Casualties

Sports on the Climate Frontline

Sports: A Battle Beyond the Field — Tackling the Climate Crisis

UNEP: Sports Must Be Either a Climate Ally or Risk Becoming One of Its Major Casualties

By Minas Bani Yaseen – Al-Anbat

It is no longer a far-fetched fantasy to imagine the cancellation of a World Cup edition or the postponement of an Olympic final due to a heatwave or flooding. These scenarios are inching closer to reality as climate change accelerates and extreme weather events intensify. Global sports now stand at the edge of an existential crisis threatening their future and continuity.

What was once considered a rare climatic exception is fast becoming the new norm: tournaments are disrupted, stadiums evacuated, athletes face harsh environmental conditions, and fans experience sports under the threat of rainstorms, lightning, or extreme heatwaves.

Numerous examples are becoming etched in global sports memory, including the rescheduling of events during the upcoming Paris 2024 Summer Olympics, the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan, and the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver — not to mention the recent postponement of certain matches in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the United States. These are not isolated incidents; they are stark warning signs for what's to come for the 2026 World Cup, future Olympic Games, and other major global sporting events.

Today, sports are no longer immune to the planet's crises. They have become both victims of the climate crisis and potential catalysts for change. This is where the role of sustainable planning and environmental awareness becomes vital: sports must either become an ally in the climate fight or risk being one of its greatest losses.

Interview with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

In this context, Al-Anbat conducted an in-depth interview with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to explore the growing climate threats to the sports sector and the opportunities for transitioning toward more sustainable models. The central questions:

Can the world of sports withstand an increasingly unstable climate?

Are sports institutions moving fast enough to adopt effective environmental strategies?

Multiple Threats and a Comprehensive Scientific Approach

UNEP assesses the climate impacts on major sporting events through scientific studies and multi-sectoral approaches. According to the organization, rising temperatures, extreme weather events, and ecosystem degradation threaten the infrastructure of stadiums and the natural environments that outdoor sports rely on.

These threats include:

Deforestation

Coastal erosion

Water scarcity

Challenges linked to transport, energy, and infrastructure — all tightly intertwined with global sports events.

The 2024 Emissions Gap Report by UNEP identified transport and energy sectors—key pillars in sports event logistics—as major contributors to global emissions. High-carbon activities include international travel for athletes and fans, and the energy-intensive operations of stadiums and facilities.

Strategic Solutions and Global Initiatives

UNEP’s role extends beyond assessment. It provides technical guidance, climate-resilient planning, and facilitates knowledge transfer of best environmental practices. One of the leading global initiatives is "Sports for Nature,” developed in collaboration with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), and the Bertarelli Foundation.

This initiative encourages the sports sector to protect and restore nature by offering an action-oriented framework to inspire environmental engagement across all levels. Its founding document, titled "Playing for Nature: The Most Powerful Offense and Defense Against the Climate Crisis”, presents scientific insights into sports’ vulnerability to climate change and highlights its potential to generate lasting positive impact.

Sports as a Platform for Behavioral Change and Public Awareness

UNEP views sports as a powerful tool to raise environmental awareness and promote more sustainable consumption patterns. Through efforts like the UNFCCC Sports for Climate Action Framework and Sports for Nature, UNEP helps sports institutions reduce their carbon footprint, integrate sustainability into operations, empower athletes as environmental ambassadors, and boost community engagement through awareness campaigns.

From Environmental Burden to Lasting Legacy

UNEP stresses that integrating environmental considerations into every stage of event planning — from inception to delivery — can transform major tournaments from ecological liabilities into sustainable legacies.

Recommended measures include:

Building energy-efficient stadiums with green roofs

Using natural cooling systems

Protecting surrounding ecosystems

Sourcing local food

Reducing waste and packaging

Offsetting emissions through nature-based solutions (e.g., reforestation)

Educating fans before, during, and after events

Inspiring Practices and Replicable Experiences

Promising examples of green sports initiatives include:

Paris 2024’s €1.5 billion investment to clean the Seine River, making it swimmable for the first time in 50 years.

World Rugby’s 10-point environmental action plan, now being implemented in clubs across Europe and the Pacific.

Additionally, UNEP supports continuous public education on key issues such as:

Low-impact travel

Plastic-free stadiums

Local food consumption

Responsible waste management

 A Roadmap for a Climate-Resilient Sports Future

As part of its "Sports for Nature” initiative, UNEP is developing a practical roadmap with actionable recommendations for countries and sports federations, including:

Establishing a baseline for emissions

Setting science-based reduction targets

Shifting to renewable energy

Developing sustainable transport

Designing long-term, eco-conscious facilities

Avoiding construction in ecologically sensitive areas

Supporting ecosystem restoration

Engaging fans and communities in awareness programs

Monitoring environmental performance transparently

Complying with global frameworks and collaborating with environmental organizations

As the climate crisis unfolds, sports face a decisive choice: stand on the sidelines, or become a leading force for climate action. The stakes are high, but so is the potential. Through science, planning, and global cooperation, sports can transform from a climate casualty to a beacon of sustainability.