Tackling Climate Through Sports

Athletes of all levels are quickly discovering that this summer is hot—record-breaking hot—making it harder to play and perform. Millions of athletes play sports that are directly impacted by weather and climate. Extreme heat is just one of the impacts from climate change that is already affecting athletes, from professional teams to kids playing their first game of tee-ball. Extreme weather and climate change also pose risks to spectators and event staff, and a number of athletic facilities and infrastructure are in low-lying, flood-prone regions.

Athletes and sports teams can be important champions for climate action and preparedness:

• Athletic programs, organizations, and teams can improve energy and water efficiency of their facilities or lower the carbon footprint of their travel.
• Communities and schools can develop resilience strategies for facilities and operations located in areas most vulnerable to the effects of climate change.
• Individual athletes or teams can educate members of the public about the risks of climate change.

Many individuals and organizations from the athletic community have already stepped up to take action on climate, and athletes are increasingly speaking out to raise awareness of the impacts of climate change on their sports and on society.

We want to hear about work that you or your organization are doing to address the impacts of climate change on athletics and to help athletes and teams serve as leaders on climate. What new, measurable steps are you taking to act on climate? Tell us what you are doing to respond to this call to action via this web form. 

Laura Petes is the Assistant Director for Climate Adaptation and Ecosystems for the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

Robert Strickling is the Staff Director for Environment and Energy for the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

Becky Kreutter is a SINSI Fellow for the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.