Stocktakes, club actions and more
Round up #34
This newsletter goes out after the EUROs and Copa América tournaments have finished, with the Olympics now in full swing, and with the new club football season in touching distance.
It’s an opportunity for this post to take stock of what has happened on the football and climate change agenda over recent months, and also take stock of the next steps with the newsletter itself. After that, there’s also the usual round-up of stories for you to tuck in to and find nuggets of interest.
Fran
Stocktake 1: How’s it going?
I’m still learning as I go along with this newsletter and trying to work out where to go next with it all. Before we all head full steam into the new season, now is a chance to step back and look again at how it’s going.
It would be great to get any feedback you have on what is working well, and what could work better. It could be on the content, the contributions, the format, or whatever else. Provide as little or as much as you like, and don’t hold back!
Please answer anonymously via the Google form. Alternatively, email or comment below in person. Depending on what I get back, I may summarise key points in a future post.
Stocktake 2: 2024
The first post of the year in this newsletter looked at what was coming up in 2024 on the football and climate change agenda. Three months into the year, the newsletter looked at developments so far and still to come. Here is a selection of some further developments since then, and others still likely to come in 2024.
Looking back
Historic floods in Brazil highlighted the important role that football clubs and players can play in response to extreme weather events, and also the impacts of climate change on football. This included the flooding of the grounds of two Serie A clubs, a pause to the football calendar, financial implications, tensions between clubs and with the football federation on the appropriate actions, as well as some incredibly powerful images and responses.
Elsewhere, in late April, FIFA announced a long-term partnership with fossil fuel giant Aramco. Just over a month later the UN General Secretary called for fossil fuel companies to be banned from advertising.
EURO 2024 took place with a range of environmental initiatives put in place by UEFA. These were extensively analysed, including here in the newsletter and elsewhere by many others. The Denmark vs Germany game was temporarily suspended due to heavy rain and lightning.
Extreme heat was an issue at Copa America with players affected, and a match official collapsing on pitch at one game. The heat was also a factor in the chaos that marred the final. Players spoke out on changes that need to be made, and Lionel Messi referenced the excessive heat. Questions have been raised about the impact of the heat for the World Cup in the US, Canada and Mexico in Summer 2026.
European Leagues and FIFPRO recently filed a joint complaint to European Commission against FIFA regarding international match calendar, with FIFA responding in a statement. The international match calendar, and ensuing international travel, affects the amount of emissions from football as well as wider perceptions. In separate news, the European Club Association published a sustainability strategy (covered here).
There was lots of excellent independent research and analysis, with two I’ll just draw out in particular for now. Firstly, a report by footballer Amy James-Turner providing views of women professional footballers on climate change. Secondly, a report by Frontrunners on Sport, Climate Change and Legal Liability.
Coming up
FIFA
Bid documents will be submitted any day now to host the next two men’s World Cups, in 2030 (in Morocco, Portugal, and Spain) and 2034 (in Saudi Arabia). These will include environmental information in them. FIFA will publish evaluation reports on the bids in Q4 2024. This will likely be just ahead of a virtual FIFA Congress on 11th December to take final hosting decisions.
In other news, the FIFA President is due to attend international climate talks (“COP29”) in November in Azerbaijan. Separately, expect to see a campaign launched soon aimed at mobilising fans in the run up to COP30 in 2025 in Brazil.
Elsewhere, we may hear more on the work of a FIFA working group looking at domestic club games overseas. Set up in May, it was expected to make recommendations “in the coming months”.
We may also see four long-delayed sustainability related reports from FIFA that were originally due to be published in 2023. This includes two follow-up reports on the men’s World Cup 2022 in Qatar, one on the World Cup 2026 Sustainability Strategy, and a bi-annual climate progress report.
UEFA
The expanded UEFA club tournaments will begin shortly. The added environmental impacts may gain media attention. Separately, an independent report on the sustainability of EURO2024 should be submitted to UEFA in September.
Elsewhere, UEFA has committed to releasing “codes of conduct for business relationships aligned with environment commitment” in 2024, and also embedding infrastructure sustainability criteria in their regulations, policies and programmes. In addition, UEFA are working on having regulations in place to safeguard players and fans from extreme weather, though timescales are not clear.
Elsewhere
In England, we may see a new FA strategy shortly, and a Premier League environmental strategy might appear (see below). For other domestic leagues, if you are aware of any plans, strategies, or key actions to be expected then please share.
Expect many other initiatives and actions, big and small, to be announced and reported on here in the newsletter!
Club Commitments
Brighton and Hove Albion have signed up to the United Nations Framework for Climate Change Sports for Climate Action Framework. Their vision is "to establish the club as one of the most environmentally sustainable clubs in the world by 2030". A headline environmental sustainability strategy is here.
I’ve updated the single handy Club commitments table where you can find links to the commitments of all clubs in the top four English leagues.
Clubs
AFC Ajak’s Johan Cruyff ArenA is to go green for their opening Eredivisie game on 11th August.
AFC Bournemouth are installing 600 solar panels at their training complex.
Bridlington Town FC have been bought by a green energy company.
Clarbeston Road AFC, with the support of Sport Wales, have planted a wildflower meadow.
Grêmio, whose ground was subject to historic Brazilian floods in April, anticipate a return to their stadium on 1st September. Their local rivals, Internacional, whose ground was also flooded, returned to their stadium on 7th July.
Lewes FC have launched a reusable cup scheme which is being used across various venues and events in the town. The Independent reports on Chris Boardman’s visit to the club and their sustainability work.
Liverpool FC has made a top 10 most sustainable sports companies list. More on Liverpool’s ‘The Red Way’ here.
Newark & Sherwood Utd FC Chairman, Steff Wright, on building a stadium with recycled shipping containers.
Oxford City FC and University of Oxford. As part of a new partnership, there is a research project to look at how the club can grow and evolve in a responsible, environmentally sustainable manner.
Real Betis FC have signed a shirt deal with Trainline.
Real Valladolid FC are collaborating with the city government on a range of practical initiatives.
Santos FC helped launch public service announcements highlighting the role athletes and fans can play in driving climate action.
Southampton FC have announced that Utilita have renewed as their sustainability partner.
Sunderland AFC's plans for a large solar farm face a backlash from local residents
In other news …
The second Climate Cup, at the world’s highest football ground in Ladakh, is being planned for 1-5 September 2024. Video here.
From The Guardian: How Sydney’s endless rain is ruining football seasons and breaking young hearts
The Football Supporters’ Association Annual Conference held a session on Football and Climate Crisis in partnership with Pledgeball. Key takeaways are here (full disclosure: I was one of the presenters in the session)
The NRG Stadium in Houston, one the stadiums that will host World Cup 2026 games, had its roof damaged by Hurricane Beryl
In Rwanda, an NGO has been working with partners to raise awareness of climate change through a football competition.
Fair Game and Pledgeball have shown their support for including the environment in the Football Governance Bill to create an Independent Football Regulator in England.
The Romanian player union, AFAN, and their league have agreed to alter kick-off times to protect players from extreme heat.
The Save Today, Play Tomorrow programme and Lewes FC are among those that have signed the Sport England ‘Going for Green Pledge’.
Just out / not read: The five levels of sustainability in European football by Ioannis Konstantopoulos and Argyro Elisavet Manoli in Leisure Studies.
Players
Jessie Fleming is interviewed by The Athletic on pushing for environmental change. Elsewhere, Jesse Fleming has also donated the social carbon cost of her travel.
Morten Thorsby for FIFPRO on the role athletes can play in tackling the climate crisis.
Podcast: Football's Climate Conversation with Adrian Mariappa on being a vegan athlete.
Hector Bellerín has launched a sustainable clothing line.
Premier League
Games overseas?
Following in the steps of Liverpool’s owner and a Manchester United sponsor, the New Jersey Governor and Mayor of London have expressed their support for domestic games overseas. In contrast, AFC Bournemouth’s owner has said “Premier League games in America? No.". The Football Supporters’ Association passed a motion at its Annual General Meeting opposing domestic games overseas. Part of the motion says “Moving games to long distance, far away locations will also place increased pressure on the environment”.
Strategy
In a BBC article on pre-season travel by Premier League clubs a spokesperson for the league says it is "also progressing its own environmental sustainability strategy development". 30th July 2024 marks 1,000 days since the league first announced plans for an environmental strategy, but it has still not appeared. In the meantime, we have had the announcement of four high-level club commitments, which are necessary and welcome, but not sufficient. The commitments are also of uncertain status and governance as they are not part of the Premier League Handbook. Fingers crossed that the the 2024/25 season sees a big push forward by all football bodies.
Sport Round-Up
Olympics
In the New York Times: The Climate Is Changing. The Olympics Need to Change, Too.
Rings of Fire Report warns of the climate heat threat to Olympic athletes
On similar lines: Environmental challenges facing athletes, stakeholders and spectators at Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games from the British Journal of Sports Medicine, and reported in SportsProMedia.
Three Years of Progress: A Review of Sustainability of Across the 2021-2024 Olympic Cycle by the Sport Ecology Group and The Sustainability Report.
More Sport
Cool Down - the sport for climate action network has launched an online hub.
The Met Office looks at Changing Climatic Conditions of British Sporting Events under Increased Global Temperatures.
From The Ecologist: Sport needs to tell a new story
From The Conversation: From melting tracks to rising alcoholism – how sport is being forced to adapt to the effects of climate change
The London Climate Resilience Review says “Recreational and professional sport both face significant climate impacts.” It calls for “London’s grassroots and professional sports organisations, including London Sport … [to] … convene a climate working party” to deliver a range of actions.
What health threats does climate change pose to sports? A Delphi study in Science & Sports.
And finally … More on Euro 2024
Is it possible to host the ‘most environmentally sustainable ever’ men’s Euro? by Walker J. Ross in Soccer & Society
Euro 2024 adverts trigger surge in interest for Chinese electric cars
Even more great analysis from DW, Forbes, and Deutschlandfunk
By UEFA: Off the pitch: EURO 2024 by numbers and more on the Climate fund
A Football For Sustainability Summit took place in Berlin, with first-person read-outs from it here and here
The newsletter is on a bit of a slower cycle during the Summer period but will be back again soon. And as ever corrections, comments, suggestions for content, and proposals to write guest posts are welcome at any time!
Fran James (he/him)
Football and Climate Change Newsletter
footballandclimatechange@gmail.com
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