UN Climate Change invites sport organizations, their leaders, and their stakeholders to join Sports for Climate Action, a global movement harnessing the unifying power of sport to address climate change and build a more sustainable and resilient future.
Sport is experiencing the impacts of the triple planetary crisis — climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. At the same time, sport has a unique ability to unite communities, inspire hope, and spark collective action. Through Sports for Climate Action, organizations across the world are working together to protect the future of sport, strengthen climate resilience, and demonstrate what is possible when collaboration, leadership and solidarity drive climate solutions.
Objectives
The activities under Sports for Climate Action have two overarching objectives:
• Objective 1. Align sports with a 1.5°C climate-safe future and help sports adapt to the impacts of climate change through partnerships and collaboration, proving what can be achieved when we work together.
• Objective 2. Leverage the influential platform of sports, the popularity of athletes and the unique relationship it has to people and the planet to engage communities, fans and global audiences on climate action.
Principles
The participants in the Sports for Climate Action Framework commit to adhere to the following four principles:
• Principle 1: Design and implement a net-zero climate strategy
• Principle 2: Partner with key stakeholders to deliver joint climate action
• Principle 3: Champion transformative climate action through storytelling and communication
• Principle 4: Prioritise climate resilience and global solidarity
Targets and Pathway to Net Zero
Sports for Climate Action signatories commit to:
• Reduce GHG emissions by 50% by 2030 (Scopes 1, 2 and 3), against a baseline of 2019 or later.
• Achieve net-zero emissions by 2040, prioritizing real emission reductions.
• Develop a net-zero transition plan that identifies short-term and long-term actions, barriers, and stakeholder engagement strategies.
• Publish annual progress reports to ensure transparency and credibility.
These commitments align sport with the scientific consensus that rapid, deep decarbonization is necessary to secure a sustainable and climate-resilient future.
