A question, a game changer, and much more
Round-up #20
This goes out as key global climate talks, COP28, are underway. Let’s hope some big goals are scored there. Here in the newsletter, I’m starting to experiment with posting a question from time to time for readers. I’ll then summarise and report back here.
The first question is below. Please, contribute and encourage others to as well! The newsletter has a great range of readers so hopefully, it will identify some fascinating insights.
Question #1
It’s a big open question to kick off with! Answers short or long, wide-ranging or focussed, are welcome by Friday 15th December. You can answer anonymously via the Google form, and also suggest future questions there too. Alternatively, email or comment below in person. The aim is to have a summary of responses in the next newsletter.
Game Changer
A new research report, ‘Game Changer II’, looks at the impact of climate change on sport in the UK. A YouGov poll of 2,000 people commissioned for it found that:
“63% of all those polled agreed that the new independent football regulator being created by the government should have a duty to consider the impact of climate change on football and ensure clubs, the Football Association, Premier League and English Football League take appropriate steps to both protect the sport from climate impacts and, as much as reasonably possible, minimise its contribution to greenhouse emissions”.
It leads to one of the key report recommendations being for:
“Parliament to ensure that football’s proposed Independent Regulator is given a clear mandate to monitor and make provisions for the long-term impacts of climate change on the sport”.
In media coverage of the report, Sport England Chairman, Chris Boardman urged big-name sports stars to use their platforms to address fans on climate issues. This ITV News video looked at whether climate change is disproportionately affecting amateur sports. And this video of Whitby Town FC highlights the community impacts. Others covering it included the BBC, The Times, and The Independent. (And, full disclosure, I had a small hand in helping out with the report).
In separate extreme weather news: 2023 is set to be the warmest year on record, says the World Meteorological Organization, and extreme rainfall is increasing even more than expected says New Scientist.
Clubs
Brentford brought club partners together to explore how they can work together to move forward on their sustainability strategy.
Brighton and Hove Albion’s food supplier talked about their approach to sustainability.
Cheltenham Town have completed a large-scale renewable energy project at their stadium. Solar panels that will account for over 25% of the stadium’s power.
Forest Green Rovers have won the Football Supporters’ Association Climate Action Award at their annual awards.
Liverpool Football Club Foundation brought 120 young people representing different clubs together for a ‘Protect the Planet’ event.
Nottingham Forest opened a new sustainable climate-positive fan zone. It’s planned to be the first of several initiatives.
Real Betis unveiled a new sustainable urban style collection.
AS Roma announced their new sustainability strategy with three core pillars: the community, the environment, and the next generation. “More than 27,000 Romanisti shared their views on how sustainability should be integrated into the Club’s plans”.
As Union Saint-Gilloise say they plan to use sustainable aviation fuel, the Aviation Environmental Federation has issued a report ‘Sustainable Aviation Fuels: hope or hype?’ and a Possible and Chatham House report says alternative types of fuels would cause more problems than they solve, and we need a stronger focus on flying less. Which leads neatly into …
In other news
The England men’s football team has been urged to take the train to Euro 2024 by the Campaign for Better Transport, and also travel by train during the tournament if there's a rail option under three hours.
“In 2018, when the UN released a Sports for Climate Action Framework, Fifa was one of the first signatories. Maybe now is the time to withdraw its name”
Owen Slot, Chief Sports Writer, The Times in a must-read on If football cared about climate it would take lead, not money. The article comes as the FIFA President attends COP28.The Athletic asked How does football become more sustainable? There are a series of thoughtful and innovative responses covering a wide range of key issues from Football for Future, Fossil Free Football, Pledgeball and others.
Footballer William Troost-Ekong talks about why we need to start a conversation about sustainability in football. He also hopes to speak by video-link to a session at COP28.
The Extra Inch (Spurs Podcast) has an interesting conversation on why fossil fuel companies would advertise on a football fan podcast.
The Bad Sport Awards 2023 Winners were announced. Football-related winners included Saudi Arabia and TotalEnergies.
Action FC, the community of women's football fans dedicated to fighting against climate change, has put out thoughtful videos of community voices on football’s responsibility to the environment, taking action and carbon neutrality.
Pledgeball, with the Football Supporters’ Association, announced that fans who pledge will enter a draw to win free away train travel up to £1,000 for next season. Clubs can also win £15,000 of sustainability advice.
The ECA read-out of an event with UEFA mentions UEFA rules saying clubs must establish “a football social responsibility strategy in line with the UEFA Football Sustainability Strategy 2030”. UEFA’s sustainability strategy includes a net zero commitment, but several clubs don’t have one (so are those clubs acting in line with these UEFA requirements or not?)
FIFA are recruiting a Director, Sustainability and Human Rights for World Cup 2026.
The Social Football Summit in Rome included sessions on sustainability. Anyone with a further read-out, feel free to share.
Two conferences in February demonstrate environmental sustainability is not yet making it on to the agenda of some important events on the future of football. One on the football regulator, and the other, the FT Business of Football Summit.
Beyond football, at COP28 almost 400 key organisations have just declared support for more consistent, comparable climate-related disclosures using ISSB’s Climate Standard as the baseline. An EY survey shows that the number of actions companies have completed as part of their climate agenda has fallen this year. A new Boston Consulting Group survey shows only 10% of companies are comprehensively measuring all their emissions. The WEF asks, do we have the right people on boards to deal with climate change?
That’s all for this round-up. I’m planning for the next round-up will look back at the year just gone and also feedback some of your insights on what’s ahead for next year.
See you next time!
Fran James (he/him)
Football and Climate Change Newsletter
footballandclimatechange@gmail.com
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