UN Climate Change News, 18 February, 2020  – More than 250 global sports organizations are set to gather in London next month to support the rapid transition towards a low carbon future for sports operations, as well as the education and engagement of fans on climate change.

The Sport Positive Summit 17-18 March at Wembley Stadium in London is taking place in the run up to the UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow (COP26), in collaboration with UN Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the International Olympic Committee.

The event is also in partnership with the UK Government’s Year of Climate Action and will bring together leaders within the UK and global sports sphere; from sports properties, venues and governing bodies, as well as climate stakeholders, government and UN agencies.

Niclas Svenningsen, Manager for Global Climate Action with UN Climate Change said: “Few other sectors are as visibly exposed to the impacts of climate change as sports. Likewise, few other sectors have such a significant potential to be part of the solution to climate change as sports. We are happy to join hands with Sport Positive, with the UK COP26 Presidency, and with the hundreds of prominent sports organizations and clubs to take the next steps towards a climate neutral and sustainable world at the Sport Positive Summit.”

The UNFCCC Sports for Climate Action Framework was launched just over a year ago with the purpose of helping the world of sports to work together in both addressing their own climate footprint, and to use sports as a vehicle to inform and engage the public, fans, athletes, clubs and others.

Sport Positive Founder and CEO, Claire Poole, said: "Sport is universal and an incredibly important component in our lives, either as participants or spectators, within our culture and for our health. The potential for sport to reduce its own impact on the climate and engage fans to do the same is incredibly powerful, so bringing our work under the banner of ‘Year of Climate Action’ ahead of such an important COP is a natural fit."

The Summit will convene UN Sports for Climate Action signatories and the wider sporting community to work towards the implementation of lower carbon operations and communications strategies. Speakers at the Summit include leaders from FIFA, UEFA, IOC, NHL, NFL, FA, Formula E, Manchester City FC, Arsenal FC, World Sailing, Formula 1, Roland Garros, Sky Sports, BBC, AEG, World Athletics and many more, talking about their work on sustainability, reducing climate impact and communicating with fans on sustainability and climate change.

Read the relevant Sport Positive Summit press release, with media contacts, here.