Athletes have been speaking out on climate change. Innes FitzGerald, the 17-year-old English Schools cross country champion, refused to travel to Australia for the World Championships due to her worries about carbon emissions. FitzGerald’s stance earned her the title of Young Athlete of the Year at the BBC Green Sports Awards 2023. Athletes such as former Wallabies captain David Pocock have joined the Cool Down campaign to push for climate action among Australian politicians. Cricket captain Pat Cummins’ Cricket for Climate initiative has seen grassroots clubs installing solar panels and reducing fossil fuel use.
However, there is still a long way to go. The Rapid Transition Alliance has adopted the ‘Cool Down’ phrase to highlight how some of the world’s most polluting companies continue to bankroll winter sports, even when the Winter Olympics had to resort to covering the slopes in artificial snow. Campaigners Badvertising have asked why polluters who steal the snow are allowed to sponsor winter sports. Champions for Earth is a campaign group founded by former rower and environmentalist Dave Hampton, together with Olympics canoeing gold medallist Etienne Stott. The group aims to encourage sports stars to take a stance on sustainability and climate change, with Pocock, FitzGerald, and Cummins leading the way.
In the past, coaches and agents advised athletes against speaking out. However, soccer player Marcus Rashford’s campaign for free school meals helped change that. Supporters of sustainability see sports stars as perfect for tackling problems that appear insurmountable because they “don’t do ‘impossible.’ It’s not in their vocabulary.” The sports community is ready to make impactful changes to support the environment and fight against climate change.
Martin Wright is a director of Positive News, a not-for-profit media organization that focuses on positive news. The journal shares solutions journalism to bring better news and empower people to take action towards a brighter future. Positive News relies on reader support, and anyone who appreciates the journal’s impact is encouraged to contribute
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