The bloomUp Biodiversity Compass is a comprehensive tool aimed at helping organisations, particularly in the sports industry, assess, protect, and restore biodiversity. It is structured around four main pillars: Wildlife & Habitats, Ecosystem Vitality, Engagement & Awareness, and Natural Resource Stewardship. These pillars contain nine sub-sections, each outlining actions focused on biodiversity assessment, protection, restoration, and regeneration. The Biodiversity Compass is an integrated part of the bloomUp Data Compass.

The Compass employs indicators based on established frameworks like the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) targets, UN SDG indicators, the Sports for Nature initiative, and CSRD Biodiversity requirements. These indicators are designed to be scalable to meet organisational needs and measure the progress of actions within each sub-section. The tool provides both an overall biodiversity score and individual scores for each pillar and sub-section, enabling benchmarking and monitoring progress towards biodiversity goals.

Visualisation through Microsoft Power BI allows for advanced data insights and report creation. The BloomUp support team aids organisations in implementing this tool, ensuring effective biodiversity conservation. This engagement aligns with global sustainability frameworks, enhances corporate social responsibility, and fulfils regulatory requirements, ultimately fostering significant biodiversity improvements across the sports industry.

Clube Atlético Mineiro, Galo, was founded on March 25, 1908. Our mascot, Galo (Rooster), originated the way the Club is known worldwide. Our traditional colors are black and white.

Galo is the great passion of the people of Minas Gerais and one of the biggest and most traditional clubs in world football. More than nine million fans form the most passionate and engaged fans in Brazil.

Galo is the owner of Arena MRV, recently opened and considered the most technological, accessible and sustainable stadium in Latin America.

The Philadelphia Eagles and The Ocean Foundation have joined forces to restore mangrove forests in Jobos Bay and Puerto Mosquito Bioluminescent Bay, Puerto Rico. This project revitalizes ecosystems devastated by Hurricane Maria, supporting endangered species and local communities reliant on fishing, agriculture, and eco-tourism. Since 2020, the partnership has restored 256 acres, planted 3,600 red mangroves, and improved hydrology, significantly enhancing coastal resilience. Future goals include regenerating 439 more acres and enabling carbon credit certification. The initiative uniquely integrates community stewardship and environmental restoration, involving local leadership, creating jobs, and ensuring long-term sustainability. In addition to transparently accounting for carbon emissions from team travel through their investment, the Philadelphia Eagles publicize their contributions, leveraging their media reach to inspire global support. This project exemplifies a blend of ecological restoration and community engagement, setting a precedent for impactful, sustainable collaboration.

It is increasingly common for the communities that host signature sporting events to be struggling with climate change induced issues, whether in desert areas or northern regions. Nature provides the most immediate means of cooling things down and improving the future, especially for the most vulnerable residents. As evidenced by NFL Green’s Super Bowl LVIII Community Greening Program, sports can play a significant role in addressing climate change and bringing immediate relief to host communities through innovative community greening programs that provide shade, cooling, habitat restoration and even access to fresh food. For Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas, one of the fastest warming cities in America, NFL Green implemented its largest community greening program to date, with 14 community greening projects that planted 3,400 trees and plants in Clark County and another 5,800 trees in an area damaged by wildfire.

Sports has a bright spotlight. NFL Green shows us how to leverage it to garner sponsor and community support, while attracting positive media attention and creating a green legacy. They have created a blueprint for others to follow, showing that partnership and innovation can create positive and lasting change, and help to offset the impacts of a warming climate.

The World Surf League (WSL) showcases transformative impact in biodiversity through its WSL One Ocean initiative. Since January 2023, WSL, in partnership with Shiseido and YETI, has led significant projects including coral restoration in French Polynesia, native plant restoration in Hawaii, and river clean-ups in Brazil and El Salvador. Working with local partners like Coral Gardeners, Surfrider Foundation, Conservation International, and the North Shore Community Land Trust, these efforts have yielded impressive results: over 100,000 corals planted, 45,374 hectares restored, and 2 tons of plastic removed from rivers. Additionally, 1,635 volunteers have engaged in these projects, and 3,041 youths have been educated, contributing to a 225% increase in engagement.

WSL’s innovative approach, integrating creative techniques and community involvement, sets new standards in environmental stewardship. By documenting and sharing insights through case studies, WSL offers valuable knowledge to the global conservation community. This commitment to long-term sustainability, along with alignment with international frameworks like UN Sports for Climate Action and the UN Ocean Decade, ensures a lasting legacy and exemplifies the power of collaboration in driving meaningful environmental change.

“Be A Reuse Champion” is a global call to action from athletes to major sports sponsors and top plastic polluters ahead of the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris.

Over 100 sport organisations and athletes, including Olympians and world champions, urge The Coca-Cola Company, PepsiCo, and Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) to keep the torch lit for reuse by dramatically increasing reusable packaging, eliminating single-use plastics from future Olympics, and supporting an ambitious UN plastic treaty.

The campaign is important because of the plastic pollution crisis impacting our environment, climate, and health. Paris 2024 will be the largest sporting event ever to serve beverages in reusable packaging, potentially replacing millions of single-use plastic cups. We must prioritise reuse and plastic reduction because recycling alone will not solve the crisis – only 9% of all plastic waste has been recycled.

The campaign resonated with athletes, who are also ambassadors of healthy lifestyle. The 121 signatories to an open letter include 102 elite athletes and 11 organisations, representing 43 sports and 30 countries, as well as eight NGOs. Over 50 Olympians, Paralympians, world champions, and world record holders supported the campaign, including 22 athletes who will be competing at the 2024 Games.

Pledgeball is a research-driven charity that mobilizes football fans around environmental sustainability. Each match day, football fans make pledges in support of their team; the team of fans that pledge to save the most carbon emissions wins that fixture, with the cumulative amount pledged determining their place within the Pledgeball League. 

In the context of UEFA’s inaugural Champions Innovate programme, Pledgeball partnered with Mastercard to implement the Champions Innovate Pledge League (CIPL) campaign. The CIPL saw the Pledgeball mechanism applied in the Champions League context, to harness the potential of football fandom to drive collective, sustainable action. Specifically, the CIPL focussed on 1) addressing individuals’ feelings of paralysis in the face of climate change; 2) demonstrating the power of collection action, and 3) combatting disconnect often felt by individuals when it comes to climate action. 

In total, 6.1 million fans of Champions League were reached across Europe, with over 91,000 individual pledges made. This equates to over 21 million kg CO2e pledged to be saved per year, equivalent to removing 4,500 cars from the road. An extensive communications campaign across TV, online and print outlets in the UK and across Europe further increased the campaign’s exposure.

Real Betis was already a green club because of its colors but in 2020 a new and necessary sustainable platform was born: Forever Green.

Forever Green is an open platform for anyone (company, institution, individual) that wants to show the world what they are doing today for the future of our planet.

The platform harnesses the power of the most popular sport on the planet to help save it and make the millions of fans today our allies in the fight against climate change tomorrow.

We aim to keep the planet safe and so we can continue enjoying football as we have been doing since always.

Forever Green has developed its own projects, revolutionary ones, and they have led the club to position itself as the second most sustainable in Europe.

Since Forever Green’s inception just almost four years ago, it has achieved remarkable milestones: reducing 4560 tons of CO2, organizing over 160 activities, partnering with 90 entities, and expanding our reach to more than 75 countries.

One of its main activities is the annual forever green match. And this season it has been focused on the drought and responsible water use. A big problem in Andalusia.

Green Football Weekend (GFW) harnessed football’s mass appeal to drive climate action, targeting the UK’s vast football audience, part of a global community of 3.5 billion. It promoted vegetarian options through the impactful ‘Transfer to Veg’ message, highlighting the benefits for health, football performance and environmental impact.

From January 18th to February 7th 2024, the campaign featured digital engagement and live activations. With support from 115 UK football clubs, activities included player-endorsed vegetarian recipes in the GFW cookbook, themed matchdays and engaging fans to pledge or take action through social media, in-stadium activations and live leaderboards during televised matches.

GFW successfully mobilised the football community for climate action, emphasising the environmental impact of dietary choices. Broad media engagement helped normalise climate change conversations within football. The campaign led to the start of significant behaviour change, with nearly 4,000 fans scoring over 30,000 ‘green goals’ and 7,300 veggie meals consumed. Additionally, a roundtable discussion with the Minister for Sport and DCMS sparked inter-departmental government talks about sport and sustainability, engaging both the Labour and Conservative parties. This initiative showcased a collaborative effort, combining bottom-up and top-down approaches to tackle this critical issue.

The Green Gooners Cup, a collaboration between Ball Corporation and Arsenal FC, aimed to reduce environmental impact by promoting sustainable practices among Arsenal supporters. Launched on Global Recycling Day, the campaign engaged fans in activities like recycling, choosing aluminium products, eating meat-free meals, and reducing car use. Utilising the Planet League platform, the three-week campaign featured Arsenal stars Declan Rice, Gabriel Jesus, and Jorginho, who encouraged participation through engaging content.

The results surpassed expectations: 7,679 unique entrants, 55,999 green goals scored, 22 million media impressions, and global participation from 164 countries. Media coverage on Sky Sports, Sky Sports News, The Sun and Forbes amplified the campaign’s reach.

Feedback from supporters was overwhelmingly positive, with 97% motivated to live greener and 96% considering it the best sustainability campaign they had seen. The Green Gooners Cup stands out for its innovative, inclusive, and transformative approach, leveraging sports to drive significant environmental change.

From the minute we wake up to the moment we go to bed, we are becoming increasingly reliant on technology to live our lives. And this is creating an unmanageable amount of electronic waste. Vapes, mobile phones, laptops, MP3 players, cables, plugs, batteries; anything that can be plugged in inevitably ends up being thrown out and annual e-waste production is on track to reach a colossal 75 million tonnes by 2030.

Sobered by these statistics, Envision Racing decided to take action and build the world’s first formula race car made entirely from e-waste. Recover-E raised awareness of the increasingly urgent issue of e-waste and inspired change. It was a groundbreaking global campaign that put a metaphorical flag on top of the world’s actual piles of growing e-waste that said, “This is not ok, but together we can fix it”. Recover-E showed people that electronic waste is not actually waste but is made of valuable materials that need to be reused.

The Sofie Project’, launched around the 2023 Women’s World Cup, aimed to mitigate the tournament’s environmental impact by mobilising elite footballers to take responsibility for their travel emissions. Supported by Common Goal and Football For Future, the campaign saw 49 players donate over €25,000 to climate resilience and adaptation initiatives in Australia, New Zealand, and Uganda. The campaign aimed to support these initiatives, normalise climate conversations in football, inspire governing bodies like FIFA to consider carbon footprints in tournament planning, and advocate for long-term behavioural change in the sport.

Key figures included Sofie Junge Pedersen, Jessie Fleming, and Elena Linari. The campaign utilised private player discussions, social media, and media coverage to amplify its message. Jessie Fleming furthered the campaign’s legacy by donating the carbon cost of her 2024 travel for both club and country, including her NWSL record transfer, to a regenerative farming initiative, showcasing ongoing impact and responsibility.

This campaign set a new standard for environmental responsibility in football, highlighting the significant carbon footprint of international sports events and promoting actionable steps toward sustainability. It stands as a pioneering example of athlete activism and collaboration between athletes, NGOs, and environmental organisations.

The Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) is setting the pace on sustainability by becoming Australia’s first sporting club to achieve Climate Active certification for its business operations as Ground Manager for the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

This certification reflects MCC’s commitment to sustainability through comprehensive emissions management including energy use, waste and water consumption. Notable initiatives include transitioning to 100% renewable energy, reducing potable water consumption and implementing advanced waste management systems.

Residual emissions are offset with 100% Indigenous Australian Carbon Credit Units supporting environmental projects in Australian Indigenous communities.

The MCC’s efforts, documented in annual Public Disclosure Statements, have led to a  76% reduction in emissions from 2021 to 2023, demonstrating a proactive approach to sustainability that benefits both the community and the environment.

Through continued efforts and strategic planning, the MCC aims to achieve net zero emissions by 2040, setting a benchmark for sustainability in the sporting industry.

The MCC’s commitment to reducing its carbon footprint is fundamental in maintaining the status of the MCG being a world-class stadium and maintaining this valuable community asset for members and fans to enjoy now and in the future.

Owned by the City of Charlotte and operated by Hornets Sports & Entertainment (HSE) with back-of-house support from the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority (CRVA), Charlotte’s Spectrum Center is the Carolinas’ premium sustainable sports and entertainment venue, serving as a leader in sustainability best practices within the industry. With the Re!magine Spectrum Center arena renovation project officially tipping off in May 2024, sustainability continues to be top of mind.

The building has many initiatives to tackle Carbon & Greenhouse Gas in alignment with the City of Charlotte’s Strategic Energy Action Plan to be carbon neutral in municipal buildings and fleet by 2030.

Spectrum Center strives to be the leading sustainable venue in the Carolinas and is highly dedicated to driving change within the arena and promoting environmental awareness among those it interacts with – both in the arena and in the community.

Environmental action is central to Starboard. We strive to reduce our impact in any feasible way, from implementing sustainable solutions at our Bangkok Headquarters, to discovering better materials to use in our boards. Our latest report revealed a 49% reduction in scope 1 emissions, but this is only the beginning.

Believing that neutrality is not enough when it comes to environmental impact, Starboard endeavours to make a positive impact on the planet, through actively tackling plastic pollution and climate change. To date, our Plastic Offset Program has collected over 900,000kg of shoreline plastic and we’ve planted 3 million mangroves, absorbing 10 times the amount of CO2 which we release to the atmosphere. Simultaneously, Starboard supports worldwide sporting events and federations, to improve their impact and join the 10X Climate-Positive movement

The Olympic iQFOiL Class, designed by Starboard, exemplifies our approach to impact. We calculate the CO2 emissions from both iQFOiL equipment and events, then plant enough mangroves to offset emissions 10X over. Moreover, for every iQFOiL board sold, 11.4kg of beach plastic is collected, equating to the weight of the board. We aim to demonstrate to other Olympic sports how they too can make a positive environmental impact.

Yas Marina Circuit, home to the world-famous Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, exemplifies sustainability excellence in the region. Committed to innovative environmental solutions, YMC sets the benchmark for venue management and sustainable practices. Our initiatives, including energy-efficient LED lighting and a solar power car park system, have significantly reduced operational costs and our environmental footprint. In alignment with Abu Dhabi’s Net Zero by 2050 initiative, we aim to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by eliminating all direct and indirect emissions from our operations and events.

To ensure sustainability remains a top priority, Yas Marina Circuit has implemented robust safeguards. These include ongoing monitoring and reporting of environmental metrics, regular performance evaluations, and continuous staff training on sustainable practices. Measures to reduce waste and promote recycling are also in place, such as separate skips for recyclable materials and donating leftover food to the Red Crescent.

Yas Marina Circuit’s proactive stance, innovative solutions, and ambitious plans for achieving net-zero carbon emissions make it a deserving candidate for recognition. By setting high standards and implementing comprehensive strategies, the circuit not only meets current sustainability benchmarks but also sets a precedent for future practices in environmental responsibility.

Nature has been integral to The Ocean Race since we first set sail in 1973. It’s at the heart of what we do – the race track we compete on and the wind that powers our boats.

We see first hand the devastating impact of pollution, climate change and industrial overfishing on the ocean. We know how important our seas are, not just to the sport we love, but in regulating our climate and providing us with food, jobs and the air we breathe.

It’s time to act, which is why we have harnessed the determination and ambition of our round-the-world race and the unifying power of sport, to inspire change. We are Racing with Purpose to go far beyond just being a responsible sports event organiser, though we are that too – having reduced our GHGs by more than 70%, leading sports in single-use plastic prevention.

We have the platform to educate, inspire and accelerate action for our blue planet at this critical time in history. This includes the sailing community, sports, businesses, host cities, governments, children, fans and many more.

Founded on October 12, 1909, by a group of young German immigrants, Coritiba SAF is the oldest and most representative football team in the state of Paraná, esteemed for its history, tradition, and titles. A centenary club with numerous achievements and a legion of fans.

The “Coxa,” as it is popularly known, was the first team from Paraná to win the Brazilian Championship title in 1985. Currently, it has 39 state titles, the most recent in 2022. It holds the South American record for the most consecutive victories, with 24 triumphs in 2011, and entered the Guinness Book as “the most victorious team in the world.”

In 2021, Coxa launched the “Nossa Identidade Verde” (Our Green Identity) program, the first environmental sustainability program in a football club in Latin America. The following year, it became the first club in Brazil to join the UN Global Compact, initiating a national movement for commitment.

The Jadir Taekwondo Association (AJTKD) has been supporting children and youth from Rio de Janeiro’s vulnerable communities for over two decades. One of its flagship programs, Kicking for Nature, combines free Taekwondo classes with environmental education to instil awareness, protection, and climate action among its participants. The program operates in a safe and welcoming environment, creatively integrating nature into its curriculum while addressing the UN SDGs. As part of the initiative, students participate in several activities, including tree planting, restoration of the Atlantic Rainforest biome, and various workshops and lectures on topics related to sustainability and the importance of the Amazon Rainforest.

Recognized with the prestigious BBC Green Sport Awards, AJTKD’s innovative approach highlights the interconnectedness of martial arts and the environment. This holistic program addresses physical inactivity, social exclusion, and limited access to nature in underprivileged urban communities. By blending sports training with nature restoration and educational support, AJTKD cultivates environmental consciousness and action, empowering youth to protect the Atlantic Forest and recognize its vital role in the health of the Amazon and the planet.

Leicester Nirvana started its journey in the 1980’s and with a strong Black and South Asian holding, the club has had its fair share of discrimination. Amongst all the challenges, financial and socio-economical, there is a feeling amongst the Nirvana community that our voices are not being heard in the climate change debate, and that we were being left behind as other wealthier communities pursue a Net Zero future with expensive interventions and fewer social challenges to overcome in order to live a more sustainable future.

We have grown to become a leading club in the country for challenging discrimination in football and now for championing sustainability in grassroots football.

Leicester Nirvana, DMU and the UN, committed to a long-term vision of working with the club. This partnership became the first of its kind in the United Kingdom, with the aim to develop the first Net Zero Carbon amateur football club in the UK.

Sustainability is not just a business strategy for Envision Racing. It’s a reason for being. The recent Formula E world champions exist for one purpose; to inspire generations to take action to tackle the climate crisis. Winning races is never a bad thing, but making electric mobility and renewable energy a global reality comes first.

We’re racers. Our energy comes from the tracks. But our environmental work goes beyond the energy-efficient tech of our cars. Our Race Against Climate Change (RACC) programme is at the very core of who we are. Off the track, we work hard to open minds, start conversations and drive actions. RACC remains the most important thing we do. Through events, behaviour change initiatives and global campaigns, RACC successfully co-opts the excitement of motorsport to drive individual climate action and, the systemic cultural shift required to reach net zero.

SailGP has an ambition to be the world’s most sustainable and purpose-driven global sports and entertainment platform. Powered by Nature, SailGP is in pursuit of a Better Sport and a Better Planet. The ocean is our race track. Climate change is a key threat to coastal communities around the world. Adverse weather conditions, flooding, threats to marine wildlife, food security and ocean acidification all have a significant impact. SailGP believes in climate action and as one of the key pillars of the Better Planet strategy, alongside our efforts to reduce and compensate for our carbon emissions, SailGP delivers wider climate action through investment in local community impact projects which align to ocean health including ocean conservation and protection of coastal marine ecosystems through coastal improvement projects.

Partnering with a local charity and its small army of volunteers, we have a passion to save food surplus from waste throughout the year and during our big events.

Volunteers from SNVB Community Larders work tirelessly during the food rescue to ensure as much as possible can be distributed to the local community and help those in need of food support.

The World Surf League (WSL) leverages its global sports platform to protect and conserve the ocean through its WSL One Ocean initiative. As pioneers in environmental stewardship, WSL achieves carbon neutrality in 2018 and continues to reach significant milestones against their 2018 baselines, including a 49% reduction in emissions and a 70% reduction in waste. WSL’s approach involves aligning with United Nations frameworks, setting time-bound and measurable goals, and ensuring transparency through annual reporting.

Beyond competitive events, WSL’s commitments extend to community engagement, youth education, and ecosystem restoration. Their WSL PURE Grant program funds vital local projects, resulting in achievements such as helping plant 100,000 corals with Coral Gardeners. By collaborating with over 200 partner organizations, including Shiseido and YETI, WSL builds a movement for ocean conservation, setting new standards for environmental responsibility in sports.

We recognize that these results come from the dedication and hard work of our partner communities and organizations. By integrating traditional ecological knowledge from Indigenous Peoples and local communities, WSL supports locally-led conservation strategies that preserve ecosystems. Through collaboration and community engagement, WSL One Ocean aims to contribute to a cleaner ocean and more resilient coastal communities, showing how sports lead in environmental stewardship.

At Brentford FC we recognise that meaningful change begins with our people. The best sustainability strategy in the world is meaningless unless the team is engaged in the conversation, their voices are listened to, and their skills and perspectives influence the process and implementation of our strategic vision.

We are proud to have collaborated with climate experts Football For Future to deliver what we believe is the most comprehensive sustainability training programme undertaken by a football club. We delivered 18 sessions to over 230 club staff, including, on-field coaching staff, foundation staff, women’s first team and our men’s academy players.

The results were transformative: understanding of climate change soared from 27% to 81%, and motivation to drive sustainability in job roles surged from 69% to 92%. This comprehensive approach fostered a collective sense of responsibility, with 95% of staff agreeing that Brentford FC has a duty to tackle climate change.

We have also already seen an increase in departments integrating their own ideas generated from the sessions into their departmental strategies.

By investing in our people, we are creating a sustainable culture at Brentford FC.

After Desert Vipers (DV) became Dubai’s first signatory to the UNS4CA, they used their influence to authentically spread sustainability messages, through their School Sustainability & Coaching Programme. The initiative has the long-term goal of establishing a sustainable programme which integrates environmental education with sports. This will help grow the fanbase, with children identifying strongly with DV as they are able to see that they are committed to sustainability. Engagement with children will also ensure communities feel empowered to act and foster a sense of collective environmental responsibility. Over the past 12 months, the programme has gone from the planning stage, right through to successful implementation in 27 schools and counting. This involved staff training on sustainability language, contacting schools, providing sessions, and then evolving the programme to include further elements, such as workshops, supporting other sustainability initiatives, and extending the invitation to all community members. Having the support of the leadership has allowed the programme to flourish under the guidance of the only full-time Development & Sustainability Lead in cricket. Using world-famous cricketers to send messages has enhanced the enthusiasm. Through this programme, DV have proven that engaging with schoolchildren on sustainability is crucial in creating a more sustainable future.

Environmental Fair Play proposes an innovative training method due to its methodology and replicability for other sports disciplines. It is relevant because of its participants: clubs and external partners/actors. It has successfully evidenced what was subjectively perceived in the sector: a) sport truly is a driver of positive environmental change; b) a good environmental commitment cannot be addressed without considering the concept of climate justice; c) the football industry is ready to increase its level of commitment, and indicators and metrics have been agreed upon to begin this task immediately. These results, which are not easy to achieve, establish a rigorous knowledge base that is particularly relevant for continued honest growth, steering clear of greenwashing or eco-posturing practices.

To educate the entire Biathlon Family about sustainability and the role everyone can play in the fight against climate change, the IBU developed a comprehensive Sustainability Education programme available to all its stakeholders. This programme is tailored to the sport of biathlon and contains individual stakeholder modules to provide them with concrete suggestions on how they can best contribute to reducing the sport´s environmental impact and enhancing its positive legacies. With (so far) over 1600 registrants, a three-part online course provides interactive information about sustainability in snow sports, impact of climate change, the role of sports organisations in an engaging format. The online course is supported by offline awareness activities and in-person workshops delivered by Protect Our Winters (POW) to athletes at events and training camps.

The Red Way (TRW) at LFC is a pioneering sustainability initiative that transforms sustainability into a lifestyle integrated into every facet of the club’s operations. TRW focuses on three strategic pillars: Our People, Our Planet, and Our Communities, offering a comprehensive education and training program targeting staff, fans, and local communities. The training covers ethics, equality, diversity, inclusion, environmental sustainability, and community engagement through diverse delivery methods, including in-person workshops, webinars, and digital platforms like the My Career and Development hub. By linking training to performance reviews, TRW ensures accountability and continuous improvement.

TRW’s uniqueness lies in its holistic approach, actively involving stakeholders from staff and athletes to fans and partners. These collaborations provide tangible actions for sustainable living, evidenced by a 98% reusable cup return rate and 86,500 kgCO2e savings through plant-based diets. With a social return on investment of £13.36 for every £1 spent, TRW demonstrates measurable impact, both locally and globally, through LFC International Academies and community outreach in Liverpool and NYC.

Achieving ISO 20121, ISO 45001, and ISO 50001 certifications showcases LFC’s commitment to excellence. TRW’s innovative methodology, inclusive engagement, and significant social impact position it as a leading example of sustainability in the sports industry.

Nature Based Blades is a new and innovative project that has already made a difference to the community we serve in relation to positive behaviour changes and community engagement and activation in relation to Climate Action and Climate Poverty. Whilst it is a serious topic, it is also one that participants have found enormously enjoyable and rewarding to learn about and get involved in. Working with young people to create positive behaviour changes on climate action will have long reaching benefits, not only to the individuals involved but to the entire city of Sheffield.

The project has already seen 3 Nature Based Solutions implemented into schools and raised aspirations for young people to seek GREEN careers having previously never considered a career in relation to preserving our planet. The project leaves a lasting legacy both on the school grounds but also out in the participants households as they engage in conversation with friends and family to encourage a more sustainable way of living.

The Toolbox is an eight-step process to help any organization create and implement a comprehensive sustainability program regardless of size, industry, or sector.

Born out of necessity back in 2021, after working through a list of over 1,000 peers and suppliers, it was clear to our team that many knew that a sustainable transition for their business was mission critical, and the willingness was there, but the feedback was that many felt overwhelmed with the scale of the challenge, and they didn’t know where to even begin (and not to mention a lack of resources).

So our team (supported by 11th Hour Racing) set about breaking it down into an easy-to-use, step-by-step process for anyone looking to implement a sustainability program.

Today, The Toolbox is free-to-use and licensed under the Creative Commons. The Toolbox comprises a suite of guides, tools, and templates backed up with free 1:1 drop in support offered by The Toolbox Team.

Flycup is a startup that innovates in the market of F&B packaging, by offering smart and eco-friendly solutions for the catering industry in stadiums and events.

The idea of Flycup is to respond to the problem of consumption at stadiums, by offering a new way of consumption: more convenient and more sustainable.

The Flycup solutions have 4 advantages:

• Improving fan consumption experience thanks to convenient packaging
• Increasing sales in the refreshment area (+18% on average of additional sales)
• Having a new communication space, directly in the hands of fans, for clubs and/or partners
• Reducing carbon footprint thanks to compostable materials

Flycup will create a legacy help accelerate the transformation of Sport into a force for good.

Microplastic is one of the biggest environmental challenges of our time. It harms plants, animals and people. It fuels the climate crisis, causes serious human health problems and threatens plants and animals.

Synthetic sport surfaces play an important role in society. They can be used in almost any weather condition and without them it would be impossible to maintain a comprehensive training and competition program.

However, there is one serious disadvantage: sports facilities made from synthetic materials release significant quantities of microplastics along with their harmful substances such as stabilizers, plasticizers and PFAS. According to the Fraunhofer Institute an average artificial football pitch releases 2,98t of microplastic from infill material into the environment annually. According to the institute plastic “grass blades” can add up to another ton of plastic per pitch and year.

In a pilot project with VfL Wolfsburg, 70 specially designed GUPPYFRIEND stainless steel mesh filters for gully and drain were implemented to prevent microplastics from synthetic infill-material and synthetic grass-blades from entering soil and water systems.

In an assessment by the DFL (German Football League) and DFB (German Football Association) the Guppyfriend solutions were evaluated and highly recommended to other clubs.

Lowr is a groundbreaking platform that helps sports teams reduce their environmental impact by targeting fan-generated carbon emissions. Launched in January 2023 by Chloe Sweden and Will de Bolla, Lowr addresses the significant carbon footprint of sports events, particularly from fan travel. Using cutting-edge AI technology, Lowr offers a unique approach that tracks emissions, engages fans with fun challenges, and supports sponsors in promoting their green initiatives.

One of Lowr’s standout achievements is its work with Watford Football Club, where it is working on an ongoing basis to engage fans to reduce their footprint. Beyond environmental impact, Lowr helps sports clubs turn sustainability into a profitable venture by increasing sponsorship opportunities, boosting saleable inventory by up to 20%.

Lowr empowers fans and sports organisations to take meaningful action on climate change, fostering a community that prioritises sustainability. By making environmental responsibility engaging and financially rewarding, Lowr is on it’s way to achieving it’s core mission: To Lower Human Impact, Globally.

IMOCA, MarineShift360 and five of the world leading sailmakers have developed the world’s first sail impact evaluation scheme, to assess and address the kgCO2e impact of all sails and grade them. In all, inspiring the sailmaking industry to innovate their technology around impact reduction. This is RISE.

Image copyright: TRR / IMOCA

Mass participation sports events have the potential to make a big positive environmental and social impact but delivering it robustly across 100,000s of participants and spectators and multiple issues is very complex.

In 2007 the Council for Responsible Sport launched a Standard to enable sports events to systemically improve their impact.

The Standard was well received but it’s very rigour and data demands made its completion by event organizers, suppliers and stakeholders challenging. This slowed down adoption of the Standard.

TCS, one of the world’s leading digital solution integrators, worked with the Council to digitize the Standard by creating the ReScore App. The App allows multiple users to upload consistent impact data; set a baseline; target improvements; track performance; access and share best practice; and gain independent verification for their hard work.

The difference the ReScore App makes has been proven by the London Marathon, which TCS headline sponsors, as it has measured effectively and efficiently a very wide range of impacts (e.g. reducing food waste, using materials in a circular way, advancing equity and inclusion); identified opportunities to further improve its impact (e.g. sustainable food); and integrated sustainability into its participant/spectator app – downloaded 693k times in 2024.

SailGP has developed an innovative electric autonomous race mark for use in on-water sailing events. This race mark is powered using electric propulsion and can autonomously position itself at a designated GPS location, significantly reducing the carbon emissions associated with moving traditional marks through fossil fuel based power boats. This product also ensures biodiversity protection of seabeds around race course areas by removing the need to physically anchor the mark, as its electric engines dynamically position the mark on the spot without the need for any physical anchoring.

Wembley Stadium connected by EE has staged some of the nation’s most memorable moments of the last century, but now the hallowed turf of the national stadium has now created its own piece of history. Modern-day football pitches are a usually made from hybrid of grass and synthetic plastic. As a result, pitches often do not break down naturally and the majority are sent to waste landfill sites at the end of their life cycle. Following a meticulous two-year plan to find a suitable solution to combat this, the Wembley Stadium team have developed a unique new process to make its famous pitch 100% recyclable that debuted in March 2024. This new innovation, thought to be a first in the football industry, now means the plastic can be extracted from the pitch and repurposed, setting a new standard for environmental responsibility in sports.

In eight short years, Alena Olsen has gone from never having played rugby to playing a key role in Team USA winning a bronze medal in rugby 7s at the Paris 2024 Olympics. During that same time period, she has gone from never having been a public advocate of any kind, to being one of the leading drivers of the #ClimateComeback among athletes anywhere in the world. Her advocacy knows no bounds: From inspiring teammates to care about the environment and climate to selling a green-focused sponsorship for USA rugby; from being a leader of a campaign to urge World Rugby to develop/deploy a climate action plan, to become a powerful public speaker about the need for urgent climate action, Alena Olsen has become a true climate leader.

Anton Klischewski is one of the main drivers bringing sustainability and grassroots sports to wider recognition in Germany. He led his club FC Internationale to become the first non-professional sports club with a sustainability certification and is particularly invested in fair and ecological procurement of sporting goods. As a consultant for sport and fair trade on local and national level, Anton also advises clubs, organisations, administration and politics in sustainable sourcing and established open networks for knowledge sharing like the round table sustainability in Berlin.

Due to limited budgets and staff, he understands sustainability in sports from different perspectives. In the last four years, Anton worked in a variety of topics such as fundraising, project management, event management, marketing and communication as well as leading a working group or being involved in political lobbying. With additional two years of academic research, he has a holistic view on the industry and can lead by example.

Being considered as one of the few experts, Anton was already consulted by the German Football Association and its president, advising a second division Bundesliga club for over a year and helping the EURO 2024 host city Berlin to bring their sustainability goals into action.

Barney Weston, co-director of Football For Future (FFF), is a trailblazer in sports sustainability. Under his leadership, FFF has grown from a volunteer group to a prominent non-profit with over £100,000 in annual turnover. Barney’s proactive advocacy with the UK Government has pushed for environmental sustainability within football governance. His collaborations with organisations like the Premier League, the University of Oxford, and Pledgeball have fostered collective action and change.

Building on his previous experience with Extinction Rebellion, working with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and other advocacy roles, Barney’s inclusive approach addresses the skills gap within the sports and climate sector by engaging and managing volunteers, many of whom have secured significant roles in the industry. His leadership and innovative projects have positioned FFF as a pioneering force in sports sustainability, driving transformative changes and setting new standards for future policy and advocacy initiatives. Barney’s work continues to inspire and mobilise others towards a more sustainable future in sports.

Karishma is a footballer and the founder of Karishma Ali Foundation and she belongs to Chitral Valley Pakistan.

She grew up with no opportunities to play sports because it was not common or even allowed for girls to play sports. She broke down all barriers and along the way started an initiative Karishma Ali Foundation.

Karishma Ali Foundation began as the dream of a 19-year-old girl from Chitral , where she stood as the first and only female athlete among a population of 500,000 in Chitral in 2018. With a vision of sharing her experiences with other girls in her region, today she is directly impacting the lives of 500 girls.

As a registered non-governmental organization (NGO), the Karishma Ali Foundation is one of the very few women led organiations that supports innovative and sustainable sport and physical activity programs as a strategy for social change and women’s empowerment, particularly in marginalized communities (with a special focus on girls from the Kalash community). Our multifaceted approach combines sports training, mental health support through art therapy, education on Gender based violence and leadership development to equip these girls with the tools and opportunities they need to thrive.

Pragnya is an elite triathlete and IOC Young Leader from India who has made significant strides in both sports and sustainability. Starting her athletic journey at age 8, she became a national champion and led India’s triathlon debut at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. She is also a Chartered Accountant and a TEDx speaker, showcasing her multifaceted talents.

Pragnya’s innovative project, “Ek Beti, Ek Cycle” (One Daughter, One Cycle), addresses educational barriers by providing bicycles to rural girls who travel long distances to attend high school. This initiative promotes recycling and environmental sustainability by refurbishing unused bicycles from urban students. Since 2023, her project has distributed hundreds of cycles, with a goal of reaching 1,000 girls by the end of this year.

Her work has inspired change at multiple levels, from mobilizing local volunteers to influencing national policies and connecting with global changemakers through the IOC Young Leaders program. Pragnya’s dedication to promoting gender equality, education, and sustainability exemplifies her leadership and commitment to making a positive impact.

Pragnya’s story is one of resilience, innovation, and transformative impact, making her a deserving candidate for this award and a true next-generation trailblazer.

Worldwide in cricket, matches are synonymous with single-use plastic water bottles, with fridges next to dugouts filled with drinks that players either don’t drink, or take one sip from and then throw to the ground.

Desert Vipers wanted to break free from this issue, and so formed a partnership with Bluewater in January 2024, in time for Season 2, when Bluewater became Desert Vipers’ Official Hydration Partner and a Sustainability Impact Partner.

This partnership meant Bluewater provided state-of-the-art water filtration units (which featured the Warming Stripes) at the Vipers dugouts at all three venues they played, and thermally-insulated, high-quality water bottles to all players and staff. The aim was to eradicate single-use plastic water bottles from Desert Vipers’ team environment, which was achieved successfully! During the five-week season, 14,400 single-use plastic bottles were saved as a result of this partnership.

This partnership has been successful as Desert Vipers became the first cricket franchise to successfully eradicate single-use plastic from their team environment. Images online of players still using our water bottles months later at other teams gave the ultimate seal of approval, showing that this partnership was good for the players, and good for the planet.

Vodafone Business’s purpose is to connect for a better future, enabling an inclusive and sustainable digital society, and many of its solutions have sustainability and inclusivity embedded. Through its IOT solutions, Vodafone Business is helping sustainability efforts, including agriculture, forestation and decarbonisation of energy grids, which align together with the values of Extreme E as a sport for purpose racing championship.

Extreme E has partnered with Vodafone Business since 2022. The collaboration has seen Vodafone Business’ leading innovations and capabilities such as 5G, MPN, IOT and MEC, integrated into Extreme E’s global operations. This has included full involvement in the purpose-driven elements of the series, with special prominence on Extreme E’s Legacy Programmes.

For Extreme E’s legacy programme in Scotland, Vodafone Business provided IoT sensor solutions to help monitor the water quality and temperature levels of the River Nith. The aim is create a stream of data across the seasons that will enable the scientists to understand the trends and what was happening in different parts of the river.

In Sardinia, Vodafone Business has developed forest fire detection innovations in a region hardest-hit by wildfires utilising its IoT platform in order to instantly trigger the necessary emergency response.

WM, a leading provider of environmental solutions in North America, has become the Official Sustainability Partner of Major League Baseball, the first sustainability-focused collaboration in League history. MLB aims to elevate its longstanding commitment to sustainability by leveraging WM’s advisory services across the league’s owned operations and flagship events, in addition to the opportunity for WM to provide such services for all 30 of its Clubs.

WM’s more than 20-year history of sustainability consulting will help MLB improve its environmental impact measurement, tracking, goal setting, and roadmapping to work towards meaningful, data-driven results. Each Club is also given the opportunity to leverage WM’s services to help progress its own goals in waste reduction and diversion, greenhouse gas emissions management, and holistic sustainability strategies.

Since the partnership launched earlier this year, it has seen successes including the implementation of waste reduction and diversion efforts at Rickwood Field and All-Star Week, in addition to WM measuring environmental impact indicators and identifying GHG emissions reduction opportunities. WM has also started providing its advisory services to more than ten Clubs across the United States.

This collaboration demonstrates how to leverage the power of sport sponsorship to drive environmental impact reduction and positive social.

The Leeds Equipment and Kit Exchange Partnership (LEKEP) aims to tackle inequalities, remove barriers to physical activity, and address the climate crisis by recycling and distributing unwanted sports kit to the most deprived communities in Leeds. Our innovative partnership not only addresses social inequalities but also significantly reduces waste, supporting our city’s net-zero carbon ambitions.

Our strength-based approach celebrates diverse methods and utilises each partner’s assets for impactful change. We deeply understand and respond to the unique needs of our communities, providing appropriate sports attire and removing the stigma associated with recycled kit. This inclusivity alleviates complex barriers and reduces inequalities, by providing local people with the opportunity to participate in physical activity.

Our partnership influences large companies to reduce landfill, fostering a more environmentally sustainable approach and supports local organisations in creating their own kit donation schemes, reducing waste, creating a community-driven circular economy.

Our partnership contributes to creating a healthier, more inclusive, and environmentally conscious community in Leeds. We are committed to reflecting on and sharing our learnings to inspire others to collaborate for sustainable change. Our dedication and goodwill drive us to change lives and make a significant impact on the climate crisis.

The LTA and BRITA have come together in a partnership that sees the first non-single-use water brand to sponsor British tennis.

The agreement marks a major milestone for promoting sustainability in British tennis, with both the LTA and BRITA committed to paving the way in terms of environmental responsibility by aiming to remove all single-use plastic water bottles from our major events. This move, made possible thanks to the provision of free filtered water dispensers and refillable filtered water bottles by BRITA, eliminated the use of more than 221,000 single-use plastic bottles from the LTA’s tournaments in Nottingham, Birmingham, London and Eastbourne this summer, and sparked conversations with tennis fans both at the tournaments and watching at home about water consumption in sport.

Working in partnership, the LTA and BRITA have jointly committed to elevate conversations around sustainability in sport by tackling single-use plastic waste, which contributes to pollution of the planet’s oceans and greenhouse gas emissions from production right through to its disposal.

Pledgeball is a research-driven charity that mobilizes football fans around environmental sustainability. Each match day, football fans make pledges in support of their team; the team of fans that pledge to save the most carbon emissions wins that fixture, with the cumulative amount pledged determining their place within the Pledgeball League.

In the context of UEFA’s inaugural Champions Innovate programme, Pledgeball partnered with Mastercard to launch the Champions Innovate Pledge League (CIPL) initiative. The CIPL applied the Pledgeball mechanism to the Champions League context, harnessing the potential of football fandom to drive collective, sustainable action. Specifically, the CIPL aimed to 1) address individuals’ feelings of paralysis in the face of climate change; 2) demonstrate the power of collection action, and 3) combat disconnect often felt by individuals when it comes to climate action.

Through the Pledgeball x Mastercard partnership, the CIPL initiative reached 6.1 million fans of the Champions League across Europe, with over 21 million kg CO2e pledged to be saved per year. Above all, the initiative demonstrated the potential for social groups to be mobilized to achieve high-impact outcomes for the planet, particularly when the right mechanism is applied and backed by a fitting partnership.

The World Surf League (WSL) and WSL One Ocean have aligned with global sustainability partners Shiseido and YETI to create a transformative collaboration that sets a new standard for purpose-driven collaboration in sports. Together, we aim to take climate action and improve biodiversity by protecting our ocean and fostering sustainable practices. The global WSL One Ocean partnership, is dedicated to raising awareness and driving impactful action through global Championship Tour events and local impact projects in key locations such as California, Australia, Brazil, and beyond.

With the expertise of Shiseido and YETI, WSL has successfully reduced single-use plastics at events, educated fans on environmental stewardship, and empowered communities to engage in restoration and conservation projects. Our joint efforts have reached and inspired millions globally, amplifying our message of ocean conservation and sustainability.

We extend heartfelt thanks to our fans, surfers, and ocean advocates who make this journey possible. Their passion and support are instrumental in driving change. By aligning with international frameworks such as UN Sports for Climate Action, Sports for Nature, and the UN Ocean Decade, we are paving the way for others, showcasing the power of collaboration in achieving meaningful environmental impact.

Arabinrin Aderonke is a force for change in Nigeria and across Africa, leveraging her platform to make an impact.

As the founder and Executive Director of the FAME Foundation for Girls and Women Empowerment, she is a distinguished leader who uses sports to drive social and environmental progress. Through her innovative sports programs, she has empowered thousands of women and girls, advancing gender equality and sustainability.

Her notable achievements include organising impactful events such as the Green Ball Walk for Climate, Green Community Outreach, and various boot camps and Life Skills Development through Sports Sessions, as well as developing educational programs on gender equality, sports, and climate change.

Aderonke’s efforts have garnered support from major international organizations, and she actively contributes to global sustainability discussions. Her dedication and leadership make her a prominent figure in advancing regional and global goals through the transformative power of sports.

Jackson Tuwei has been an excellent steward of Sports and Sustainability agenda in Kenya, Africa and the World. We note that this is an agenda he also now pursues at the Global level beyond the sport of Athletics. The contribution he has and continues to make in the greater environmental agenda of tackling the triple planetary crisis of Climate Change, Biodiversity loss and Waste and Pollution is commendable. We applaud his efforts and that of Athletics Kenya on responding to the call for action.

Over the last 18 months, William Troost-Ekong has become one of the most vocal footballers about climate change, engaging millions of fans and discussing sustainability with influential media titles globally. William is a leader on the pitch, voted player of the AFCON tournament, and one of the most passionate players in the game willing to take action and challenge the status quo within football. Troost-Ekong completed the first international transfer mitigation scheme, called for the game’s biggest stars to get involved in the climate conversation and found out first hand how extreme weather is impacting agriculture in Italy – all while engaging fans through social media and talking to journalists on an almost monthly basis, alongside his club and international duties. This year’s AFCON was watched by close to 2 billion people who all witnessed William be the first player to wear football boots made from bio-based materials at a major tournament. Troost-Ekong used this opportunity to engage African fans and media about sustainability, and his concerns for the next generation. Through his charitable foundation, Troost-Ekong will engage the next generation of change makers in Uyo, Nigeria. William Troost-Ekong is a leader setting an example for other athletes to follow.

Amara was the first Thai woman to become a windsurfing World Champion and has won over 200 titles. Also an inspiring environmental advocate, Amara utilises her position as a national icon to lead others into joining her in combating Thailand’s plastic pollution crisis.

On a mission to protect the ocean, which she describes as her home, Amara leads a group of community volunteers, aged between 18 months to 83 years old, to collect litter from beaches, rivers and mangrove forests in Pattaya. Innovatively, Amara teaches volunteers to clean up waterways from stand-up paddle boards, recognising the equipment’s unique ability to access trash amongst mangrove roots and safely get people into watersports.

Amara propels her mission by collaborating with other influential athletes and empowering people across Thailand with her environmental education and motivational stories. Through sharing her personal experiences of seeing marine life impacted by litter, and her remarkable life story of overcoming extreme poverty to become World Champion, Amara profoundly inspires the hundreds of children she works with.

Heralded ‘a Green Hero’, Amara’s effective leadership and tireless effort is influencing change at the critical level, through cooperation from national corporations, authorities and governments, who all seek to work with her.

In 2022, Phil Oliver was appointed by Mr Avram Glazer to lead his new cricket franchise, The Desert Vipers, who would be playing their first season in the inaugural UAE league, DP World ILT20, in January 2023. The focus for Season 1 was on getting up and running as a franchise, as Desert Vipers finished runners up.

Following the season, Desert Vipers had the opportunity to determine what they wanted to stand for as a franchise. Phil very quickly realised that sustainability should be the core focus for two reasons. Firstly, Phil could see that cricket was becoming more affected by climate change. Secondly, Phil recognised the power and influence of major sporting organisations to help shift the dial.

Within 12 months, Desert Vipers had:

• Created sustainability in sport commercial assets
• Signed sports’ first ever Climate Change Partnership
• Hosted cricket’s first ever Sustainability Match
• Hired the only full-time Sustainability Lead in world cricket
• Created a Schools Sustainability & Coaching Programme
• Became Asia’s first cricket signatory to the UNS4CA
• Formed a sustainability partnership with the Dubai Sports Council (of the Dubai Government)
• Became the first cricket organisation in the world to make their annual carbon footprint public
• Published a Sustainability Strategy

The First in Establishing an Environmentally Sustainable Sport Culture in Korean Professional Sports.

For the first time in the Korean professional sports industry, I declared a long-term environmental sustainability vision, participated in UNFCCC Sport for Climate Action, measured and published greenhouse gas emissions in the K-League, and established new clauses related to environmental sustainability within the K-League club licensing, thereby leading Korean sustainable sport culture.

The Power of Empathy, Leading to Collective Action I conduct annual workshops on environmental sustainability with all K-League clubs and launched eco-friendly campaigns for fans to engage in activities that decrease the negative impact on the earth in and out of stadiums. These efforts create a base for collective empathy and voluntary participation, spreading awareness of environmental pollution and climate crises.

Establishing the Structure and Policies of K-League Sustainability

I developed a guideline on environmental sustainability for K-League clubs, established an online greenhouse gas emissions platform to collect data, and created the “Green Winners Award” for the best eco-friendly club in the K-League to encourage participation in environmental campaigns. Additionally, I established new environmental sustainability clauses within K-League club licensing to ensure that even clubs not initially interested in sustainability participate in our movement.

Mathieu Flamini should win this award for his groundbreaking contributions to environmental sustainability through his co-founding of GFBiochemicals which is making everyday products safe and sustainable, and became an influential advocate for climate change action. GFBiochemicals produces sustainable solutions , as an alternative to fossil ingredients and significantly reducing the carbon footprint. Under Mathieu’s leadership, the company has achieved a large scale production, showing a viable path towards a green economy.

A few examples, as results of Mathieu’s invovment : Mathieu has been nominated as Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum and has been a member of the Olymic Committee for the Paris 2024 games for the sustainability section.Mathieu is also the co-founder of the Biorcice Master, first Master in Italy fully dedicated to Bio-Economy and circular economy.

His advocacy within the sports industry has inspired football clubs and organizations worldwide to implement eco-friendly initiatives, demonstrating the powerful combination of sports influence and environmental responsibility.

Flamini’s work exemplifies the transformative potential of integrating sustainability into both industrial and sports sectors, creating lasting positive changes on a global scale. His dedication, innovative solutions, and ability to inspire action make him a deserving candidate for this prestigious award.

Susie has demonstrated her positive impact in supporting a more sustainable world in several ways. She has been a technical expert on disability inclusive climate action working with the UK Government for several years. She has also used her platform as a Paralympic gold and multiple bronze medallist swimmer to raise awareness of the importance of ocean conservation globally. Over the past four years, she has produced a series of seven original paintings in acrylic inspired by marine life for the Marine Conservation Society in the UK, where she has been an Ocean Ambassador since 2018. The original artwork has been turned into prints and puzzles by the charity, selling over 200 pieces online and raising over £1000.

In addition, Susie has written blogs and articles on the importance of marine conservation for MCS but also for the World Economic Forum, which has millions of readers globally. She has featured in podcasts and social media posts raising awareness of ocean and plastic pollution campaigns in the UK and globally to protect our oceans. She also serves on the Advisory Council of the BeVisioneers fellowship programme which supports global young leaders in their sustainable entrepreneurship journeys, often acting as a mentor.

Susie has been involved in sport and sustainability for over 20 years, setting and raising the benchmark of delivery across teams, events, venues and governing bodies. She has been behind the award-winning sustainability programmes of America’s Cup team Ben Ainslie Racing, Liverpool Football Club’s the Red Way, SailGP’s sustainability programme, conceptualising and developing their Impact League. She has developed World Sailing’s Agenda 2030, World Athletics’ sustainability strategy and their Athletics for a Better World Sustainable Event Standard, Goodwood’s Estate wide strategy and sustainability across their flagship events. She has also been behind numerous other sustainability programmes across cycling, rugby, lacrosse, football both in the UK and internationally.

She has contributed to the development of many sustainability sport frameworks and pioneered the use of international standards to drive and maintain and push the ambition level we need to reach.

Dr. Allen Hershkowitz is Environmental Science and Sustainability Advisor to the National Basketball Association, the New York Yankees, Major League Soccer, the Los Angeles Clippers, the NYCFC and serves as an environmental advisor to the NHLand the USTA. Working with the Commissioners of Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association, the National Hockey League, and Major League Soccer Hershkowitz was instrumental in creating the influential environmental programs at MLB, NBA, NHL, and MLS. At the request of Billie Jean King he also created the environmental program at the USTA. In so doing, Hershkowitz was instrumental in launching the global movement to leverage sports to promote sustainability. He led the effort to create the US-based Green Sports Alliance and served as GSA’s President and as a Founding Board Director. He also co-founded Sport and Sustainability International and served as its Founding Chairman.

Sports Business Journal listed him among the “50 Most Influential People in Sports Business.” Worth magazine listed him among “The 60 Most Powerful People in Sports.” According to Green Sports Blog: “Hershkowitz is the most consequential environmentalist in the history of North American sports.”

Named in the Sport Business Journal’s ’10 to watch in sustainability’ in 2022, Norman Vossschulte is Vice President of Fan Experience & Sustainability for Philadelphia Eagles and on the Board of Directors of the Green Sports Alliance.

In 2014, Norman became the official GO GREEN spokesperson and began leading the green team for the Philadelphia Eagles. During his tenure the Eagles have obtained LEED Gold certification and were the first sports team in the world to obtain ISO20121 certification. He organized and re-branded the initiative as the GO GREEN ECO Committee (Engagement, Communication, Operations) to involve the entire organization.

His spirited leadership has played an integral role in propelling the GO GREEN program into one that prioritizes green energy production, recycling and composting, reforestation, ocean conservation, emission reduction, energy efficiency, and much more.

Norman leans in to innovation, partnership, inspiring and uplifting others.

Sophie Goldschmidt deserves to be recognized for her role in spearheading Easy Green, U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s new climate change-focused initiative focused on amplifying the conversation around climate and driving widespread commitment to sustainable practices across skiing and snowboarding.

In an industry on one of the grandest stages, Sophie leads the charge in reducing the organization’s carbon footprint and spreads awareness worldwide.

Emma Pocock is the CEO and co-founder of FrontRunners, whose strategic mission is to help secure the future of sport in a changing climate. Environmental issues have always been central to Emma Pocock’s work, but after the bushfire season of 2019-20, this took on a whole new focus. Having spent a decade embedded in the rugby world alongside her husband David Pocock – former Wallabies captain and now politician – she knew the impact sport could have on our national conversation about climate change. So she started FrontRunners, a small but mighty organisation working behind the scenes helping athletes feel more confident to talk about the impacts of climate change.

At the helm of FrontRunners, Emma has overseen the largest athlete-led campaign in Australia’s history, with almost 500 athletes from 40+ sports calling on the government to lift its climate ambition in the wake of the 2020 Black Summer bushfires.

Greg Dingle PhD is a Lecturer in Sport Management, and a Researcher at the Centre for Sport and Social Impact, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia. Greg’s research is focused on the impacts of climate change on sport, and associated risks, vulnerability, resilience, and adaptation responses. Greg is a founding member of the La Trobe University Climate Network (2019), and was the first Australian academic to join the Sport Ecology Group (2020-present) as an Affiliate Member.

Dr Sheila Nguyen’s 20+ years of professional life can be understood as service to our natural world- via sport. For her work, Sheila was given the Honorary Lifetime Member award from the British Association for Sustainable Sport (BASIS) and recognised as an Australian Financial Review Top 100 Women of Influence (2019).

She has contributed to research, SXSW 2024 & 2023, TEDx, COP21 in Paris (2015), and many other global sport and sustainability forums.

Sheila is a Leadership in Energy; Environmental Design Associate and sits on a number of boards and advisory committees including as a member of both the technical and revision committees for ISO 20121: 2012 Event Sustainability Management Systems, and recently served as a judge for both the British Association for Sustainable Sport (BASIS) Awards 2023 and SailGP’s Impact League Awards 2024.

She successfully delivered the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 Sustainability Strategy as the tournament’s Head of Sustainability, and is the Co-Founder and an NED of the Sports Environment Alliance, the coalition of sport & planet leaders in Australia and New Zealand working to protect the places where we play so we can continue to do what we love- watch and play sport.

I am a former athlete on the Brazilian rowing and water polo team, alongside my twin sister, Kátia Alencar, we were the first Brazilians to compete internationally in these two sports. My experience in sport and concern for the climate cause led me to found the Instituto Esporte pelo Planeta (EPP), the first sports institute in the world, operating in the carbon credits market, which supports the sports community and the most vulnerable populations in the world. tackling climate impacts.

Our innovative model integrates sports projects with climate financing, creating a significant impact, promoting environmental conservation and the development of sport. Through strategic partnerships, we preserve vast areas of the Amazon rainforest and offer tools so that athletes, sports institutions and companies can calculate and offset their carbon footprints.

Being recognized at the Sport Positive Awards 2024 is a unique opportunity to show the world the transformative power of sport in the fight against climate change. As an athlete and a woman, I feel a huge responsibility to use my voice and passion to drive innovative action to help more people address climate impacts.

Founder and president of the Jadir Taekwondo Association (AJTKD), formed in 2000. Previously has served as the Head Coach for the Brazilian national taekwondo team. From environmental and climate change education to gender equality, AJTKD works with various cross-cutting themes and is committed to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Over 7.000 children and youth have been assisted in more than two decades of operation.

AJTKD’s project specifically targets communities in Rio de Janeiro’s favelas, where children and youth are particularly vulnerable to impacts of climate change, utilizing taekwondo as a means to instil environmental consciousness and empower its beneficiaries to become agents of positive change.

Rodrigo M. Weinhardt is a Brazilian sports manager specializing in communication and marketing, with a career dedicated to strategic planning. He holds degrees in journalism and law, with specializations in sports communication, press relations, and ESG. Currently, he is pursuing a master’s degree in administration, strategies, and marketing.

Weinhardt has worked to promote the integration of sports, the environment, and biodiversity conservation, believing in the transformative and modifying power of sports. He is the creator of the FairPlay Ambiental project, a prominent initiative in Brazilian sports aimed at raising awareness about the importance of environmental preservation and making sports a catalyst for sustainability. He implemented the first environmental sustainability program at a Brazilian football club, Nossa Identidade Verde, at Coritiba FC.

Sailing’s 11th Hour Racing Team released its Impact Report in September 2023, showcasing its success as a sustainability-led organisation, creating a better future for the marine and sailing community.

The interactive report – delivered by Think Beyond – details the specific methods, data, innovations, and key learnings, as well as the challenges faced in their quest to become a sustainable sports team. It concludes with clear recommendations on the most impactful steps that can be taken to reduce the footprint of a high performance sailing team, while highlighting the constraints of a business as usual approach and the need for a new definition of success within the marine industry.

It is a leading example of how a sports organisation can go beyond simply reporting emissions, to place sustainability at the heart of a campaign with the objective of inspiring, challenging and sharing learnings with the industry around it.

There is an urgent need for the marine industry to align to the Paris Agreement’s requirement of a 45% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, and by publishing its Impact Report, 11th Hour Racing Team’s intention was to provoke innovation and collaboration to achieve that goal.

World Rugby published a landmark report looking at the projected impacts of climate change on the sport of rugby in an effort to raise awareness of the issue that is already affecting the game as whole.

With the world heating up and likely heading towards a 1.5-degree increase in global average temperatures by 2026, the study demonstrates that consequences on rugby’s practice and ecosystems are significant and will continue to deteriorate in the coming decades.

Authors have used global and local climate projections from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), interviews with experts and data from 10 of its member unions to compile the landmark “Rugby and climate change” report, a study looking at six main climate hazards that impact both directly and indirectly the sport, its athletes, spectators, infrastructure, and pitches to evaluate the likely implications for rugby.

Predicting a surge in extreme heat days, intensity and frequency of droughts, heavy rainfalls and flash floods, as well as increased humidity levels in all countries analysed, it is hoped that the report and its set of recommendations can empower stakeholders to adopt adaptation measures to safeguard the future of rugby.

“Women’s Football and Climate Change: The Players’ Perspective” explores the concerns of women footballers about climate change and its impact on football. Key findings include:

1. Player concerns: The majority of players are worried about the current and future effects of climate change on football, both on and off the pitch. Many express anxieties about extreme weather conditions affecting playing conditions and the broader industry.
2. Football’s role: Players believe football has a significant role in combating climate change. They feel that the industry should actively reduce its carbon footprint and promote sustainability. However, they acknowledge the economic challenges, such as reliance on fossil fuel sponsorships and the need for travel.
3. Player influence: There is strong agreement that players can influence public attitudes and behaviours towards climate action. Many feel a responsibility to lead by example in adopting sustainable practices, though they recognise practical difficulties.
4. Club Actions: Players are generally critical of the current efforts by clubs and leagues to address environmental concerns. They feel that initiatives are insufficient and lack visibility and inspiration. There is a call for better leadership and more effective communication within the football community.

Sport and the environment are closely connected, but this relationship is under threat from global warming and climate change. Brian McCullough reviews the sport ecology research landscape and finds that the research focuses on how sports organizations, from individual events to the entire global sector, tackle climate change in two main ways reducing environmental impact and adapting to environmental changes.

He examines previous research in these areas and identifies gaps that need to be addressed to improve our understanding of environmental management in sports. He also explores practical responses to climate change, using examples from other fields to enhance research and guide industry practices. As the sports sector evolves, there is a growing movement where sports organizations face pressure to align their environmental values with their operations, such as reducing short-haul flights and reconsidering carbon-intensive sponsorships.

He offers recommendations on how sports organizations can engage fans and participants in meaningful climate action, demonstrating clear results and the role that academic research can have in supporting industry efforts to be more sustainable.

Extreme heat inevitably presents challenges to athletes’ health and performance. Whilst sport science literature commonly describes experimental work, with a primary focus on the physiological effects of heat, this overlooks the unique insights that lived experiences can add. Therefore, the aim of this research paper was to understand elite athletes’ perceptions, experiences and responses to extreme heat in relation to climate change and explore the use of their platforms for climate activism. Utilising a series of semi-structured interviews, this paper highlights a clear division in knowledge and awareness of the risks of heatwaves among elite athletes, relating to sport type, access to the latest research, athlete level and personal experience of impaired health and performance.

By uncovering and shining a light on lived experiences in different sports, Kate Sambrook’s paper makes an important contribution to understanding heat-related issues in their holistic sense. This knowledge is critical to the ability of sport stakeholders to take informed action to address athlete-identified needs, and ultimately develop appropriate climate adaptation strategies to effectively safeguard athlete health and prevent inequities from widening.

The 5 Levels Of Sustainability In European Football: Mapping the Sustainability Approaches of UEFA’s Member National Associations With increasing interest being drawn to sustainability in sports, and UEFA’s recent sustainability strategy being introduced as a roadmap and pressure level for football organisations’ sustainability efforts to intensify, the implementation of sustainability policy is becoming key for football’s sustainable development. In this study, through the lens of institutional theory and isomorphism, we focused on UEFA’s member national associations (NAs), to capture the existing sustainability efforts within them, as they are reported on their official communications, and thus the backdrop to which the strategy was introduced and is being promoted. Qualitative document analysis was conducted on all official communications (website, national strategies, press releases) of all UEFA’s NAs. Through this, five levels of sustainability in European football were identified, capturing patterns in the existence of social and environmental sustainability actions and strategies among UEFA’s NAs. The five levels of sustainability in European football presented allow for a better understanding of the full spectrum of sustainability in football to be depicted, while acknowledging potentially overlooked nuances in the existence of not only actions but also strategies to guide organisations in their sustainability efforts, and illustrating the gradual progression from no sustainability to more sophisticated social and environmental sustainability in football.

BBC Sport researched 100 games played in the UK involving Premier League teams between January and March 2023 to understand how many domestic flights were taken, giving the first insight into the volume and details of ‘positioning’ flights.

At the US Open tennis in New York on 6th September last year, former champion Daniil Medvedev took to the court to play Andrey Rublev in the quarterfinals. It was 33 degrees, posing brutal conditions for both players, culminating with Medvedev saying to an on-court camera, “you cannot imagine…one player is going to die, and they are going to see”.  This moment of desperation from a global sporting superstar prompted an editorial piece from Sky Sports, featuring some globally recognised names, presenting a discussion on the topic of global warming and how it impacts tennis.

Africa, our motherland, continues to bleed, and its rich natural resources are being wiped away because of the adverse effects of climate change.

Sports, which is considered the heart of the continent, and football, which is its foremost passion, has a crucial role in stopping the bleeding.

Lives have been lost due to intense flooding, and the hot conditions are affecting everyone. Steps have to be taken to raise awareness about the need to preserve the environment.

Ghana, my motherland, has to do more with policymakers to create a framework to be followed by sports organisations and also to meet the need for them to join the UN’s Sports for Climate Action Framework.

The road to meeting the climate change global goals might be a long one, but every step we take now will go a long way towards mitigating the effects and making our world a beautiful place to live.

The small things every individual does in his or her profession will have an impact on preserving the environment, and it is indeed a global fight for all.

Our actions now will save our children in the future, and they will remember us for our fight against the enemy.

Transforming an entire industry takes time. It also needs a well adapted governance strategy to implement the change and drive it. The IMOCA Class is well positioned to drive change through the industry by adapting its rules with sustainable measures. The Class has boasted the largest comparative life cycle assessment study in sailing over the last three years, leading to an ambitious 60tCO2e reduction scheme on all new IMOCA. The innovative Eco-Score tool developed by IMOCA and the nautical industry is the key device to coordinate, drive and assure the change.

Image copyright: polaRYSE / IMOCA

After many years of sustainability sitting buried in the agronomy department, the European Tour Group launched its first, comprehensive sustainability strategy in June 2021 on World Environment Day. Called “Green Drive” and produced with independent consultants the GEO Sustainable Golf Foundation, sustainability now forms a core pillar of the Tour’s wider Golf for Good programme and become an annual business KPI.

In 2022 the Tour became the first professional golf circuit to commit to net zero carbon emissions by becoming a signatory to the United Nations Sport for Climate Action Framework and its Net Zero by 2040 Pledge. Since then, the Tour has completed a full audit of ten of its tournaments to set baselines, produced its first public “scorecard” to showcase its emissions breakdown and track progress, and used its most high-profile tournaments as test beds for the latest energy efficient hydrogen and solar technologies.

Liverpool FC’s commitment to sustainability, embodied through “The Red Way” (TRW), has transformed the club into a leader in sustainable practices within the sports industry. Since its inception in 2021, TRW has made significant strides in reducing environmental impact and promoting social responsibility. The club achieved a remarkable 65% increase in recycling rates for plastic bottles at Anfield and offset 100% of emissions from football operations, alongside transitioning to 94% clean energy for its facilities. Through strategic partnerships, such as with SC Johnson, LFC has innovatively addressed waste management by converting recycled plastic bottles into new products, achieving a 90% recycling rate for PET bottles. LFC’s efforts extend beyond environmental initiatives, with £87.68m contributed to social value and over 14,874 training hours delivered to staff. Aligning with 14 UN Sustainable Development Goals and certified by ISO standards, the club remains committed to continuous improvement, enhanced reporting, and community engagement. Liverpool FC’s integration of sustainability into its operations, community, and culture demonstrates a powerful model of leadership and innovation, setting the standard for responsible practices in sports. This holistic approach makes LFC a deserving candidate for the transformation award, showcasing its impact on both the environment and society.

The LTA’s first ever Environmental Sustainability Plan was published in June 2022, setting out how we intend to secure a lasting future for tennis in Britain, through positive action on climate change and leadership in sustainability.

To deliver on our vision of Tennis Opened Up, we recognise that it’s critical we address our own climate and environmental impacts and work with everyone involved in our sport to do the same. The climate crisis and changes to the environment are already impacting tennis at all levels. From extreme temperatures and weather at international events around the world, to increasing risk of flooding at local venues across Britain, it’s important that the LTA and everyone involved in tennis plays their part.

The LTA set 10 challenging targets for the initial phase of our plan, and good progress against each of these has been made. 80% of these targets have been fully achieved, and we have also been able to achieve a number of targets which we originally set ourselves for 2024-2026. We have now refreshed our sustainability plan, dialling up the areas which will have the greatest impact and building on progress over the last two years.

Silverstone has come a long way since it hosted the first Formula 1 race in 1950 and is now an internationally recognised brand and host of both the Formula 1 and MotoGP British Grands Prix. Building on its position as the home of British motorsport, Silverstone has evolved to appeal to both the true motorsport fan but also those seeking a unique experience at a world famous sporting venue.

In addition to being one of the fastest race circuits in the world, Silverstone is also home to the largest conference and exhibition centre between London and Birmingham (12,500 sqm), a 197 bedroom Hilton Hotel and the brand new Escapade development with 60 residences.

Since launching its Shift to Zero strategy in 2022, Silverstone has made considerable progress by transforming into a smart business and leisure destination which is then recognised internationally as one of the most sustainable race track in the world, according to the recently published Sustainable Circuit Index where Silverstone has reached the 3rd position.

Innovation, Community, Experience are our 3 Sustainability Strategic Pillars, supporting 9 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

We are an impact driven organisation, shifting to zero and it’s only the start!

Cycling is a pathway to ensuring a safe and sustainable world. When the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) launched its first Sustainability Strategy on World Bicycle Day in June 2021, its ambition as the world governing body for cycling was to lead by example and lay the foundations for its stakeholders to build upon as a united cycling family. The subsequent 2030 Sustainability Strategy, launched in 2023, reflects Cycling’s Agenda 2030 priorities and the wider potential for contributing to sustainable development and building a better world through sport.

Over the past years, the UCI has stepped up to play an important role on the global stage by engaging with policymakers to adopt bike friendly policies. The launch of the UCI Climate Action Charter, UCI Climate Action Training and the UCI Sustainability Impact Tracker have been significant milestones in supporting cycling family members to take climate action. The transformation required to achieve the vision of making cycling one of the world’s most sustainable sports is underway, with regular progress achieved through sound planning, strong partnerships and collaborations, knowledge and data sharing, and practical tools for cycling stakeholders around the world. We are building the cycling of tomorrow today, together.

Since the launch of its Sustainability Strategy in April 2020, World Athletics has moved urgently to involve all key stakeholders on its sustainability journey.

We are bringing events into the conversation. Our Athletics for a Better World Standard, a certification that measures an event’s achievement in sustainable delivery, is making sustainable delivery and reporting mandatory for all licensed events. And from 2027, all championship events will be contractually obligated to meet strong environmental and social criteria in alignment with the standard.

We are including host cities and sponsors in the conversation. Our standard requires collaborations between organisers and major stakeholders, to help amplify awareness of their sustainability initiatives.

More than 90% of our athletes believe that World Athletics has a role to play to help create a better world. So, we are including athletes in the conversation through our Champions for a Better World who are helping to amplify athletes’ concerns about the climate crisis.

We are including staff across the organisation in the conversation. The management systems developed ensure that each department will take on stronger sustainability commitments.

And we are involving our member federations in the conversation, including the smallest and most climate vulnerable nations on the planet.