Sport and climate change are heavily interconnected and impact each other in more ways than you may realise.
Extreme weather variations, including storms and heavy rainfall, are leading to cancelled training sessions and competitions. Rising temperatures are also creating unsafe conditions for children to be active.
In turn, sport contributes to climate change through factors such as athlete and spectator travel, as well as excessive kit and textile consumption.
We all have a responsibility to make small changes that can have a wider impact on the world around us.
Shocking Statistics
The Football Association estimates that 120,000 grassroots football matches are cancelled each year due to bad weather. (Gov.uk, 2025)
A third of community pitches are already unplayable for two months of the year due to flooding and waterlogging. (Gov.uk, 2025)
Only 16% of rivers, lakes and streams in England – which act as both habitats for wildlife and the spaces we swim and paddle – are classed as in ecological good health. (Sport England, 2024)
A research study conducted by professors at Newcastle University suggests that “the extra [rain]water that falls every winter across the UK from fossil-fuel induced warming would fill 3 million Olympic sized swimming pools” (Newcastle University, 2026)
Sport England estimate the current financial cost of climate-related damage and disruption to grassroots sport in England is £320 million annually. (Gov.uk, 2025)
Knowing where to start and how to make changes is the first step to becoming more sustainable, but understanding how to make that first step can be challenging.
We have developed a support package of tools, simple tips and downloadable documents to help you get started.
Busting Sustainability Jargon
from ESG to SDG to GHG, what does it all mean and how to we make sense of it?
Learn about sustainability jargonIntroduction to Carbon Calculations
You can’t manage what you don’t measure; beginning to measure our carbon output is the first step to knowing what measures to implement to create change.
Learn about carbon calculationsSustainability Action Plan
A sustainability action plan is a document where you can record the small changes you hope to make over a set period of time. We have developed an action plan template for you to download.
Download action plan templateSimple Ways to be More Sustainable
Read through our practical ideas to help sports clubs, community organisations and workplaces become more sustainable, one step at a time.
Learn how to be more sustainableLitter Picking
One of easiest ways to make a visible difference in your community is through litter picking. We can lend you all the equipment needed to ensure a safe experience for all involved.
Hire litter picking equipmentMore Support
Contact
To find out more about our work on Sustainability, contact our Environmental Sustainability Development Manager, Rebecca Stokoe
