A huge amount of carbon emissions are produced by the sports industry, the magnitude of which can be difficult to gauge and appreciate.

Let's take a look at the environmental impact of a return flight from London to Sydney for cricket fans. This single trip can generate around five tonnes of carbon dioxide per passenger - equivalent to the same amount of emissions produced by the average car in the UK over two years!

Research has found that over 85% of the emissions of major sporting events are caused by the travel of participants, fans and organisers.

Calculating and attributing carbon emissions in the sports industry is a challenging task. While it's easy to point fingers at leagues, investors, club directors or fans, the truth is everyone involved plays a role in creating the cumulative carbon footprint of professional sports. This means if we want to reduce emissions in sports, it will require effort and cooperation from all stakeholders involved.

Most sports are relentlessly pursuing global expansion, their contribution to carbon emissions continues to rise as a result. This is often overlooked, and it's time for sports leaders to address the elephant in the room! More travel needs, more infrastructure projects, and more energy-intensive events.

These emissions are further exacerbated by the vast digital consumption of sports, facilitated by large-scale data centres that support streaming services and online platforms, consuming massive amounts of energy in doing so.

The sports industry is not only contributing to the problem of climate change, but also has to face up to the detrimental impact and consequences that a warming planet will have on sport as we know it.

It is important sports leaders not only grow their sports responsibly but also find ways for their sport to be a part of the solution.

The purpose of this article is not to do a deep dive into the many ways in which the globalness of the sports industry generates carbon emissions, nor is it to discuss the impact climate change is having on sport - we'll leave these problems for another article.

Instead our aim is to help you understand the global context of carbon emissions and the many complex relationships at play. The connections between sports and environmental impact need further exploration and hopefully this article inspires you to delve deeper in to the areas you are passionate about.

Let’s start by reminding ourselves why our carbon emissions are a problem:

The buildup of greenhouse gases that envelop planet earth, trap solar heat. This sequence results in escalating global temperatures and consequent climate changes. The world is now warming faster than at any point in recorded history. Sustained warming changes weather patterns and disrupts the usual harmony found in nature. It poses numerous risks, not only to humans, but to every creature on earth.

In a recent report, Dr. Christopher Wolf from Oregon State University issued a stark warning: “Without actions that address the root problem of humanity taking more from Earth than it can safely give, we’re on our way to the potential collapse of natural and socioeconomic systems and a world with unbearable heat and shortages of food and freshwater."

“By 2100, as many as 3 billion to 6 billion people may find themselves outside Earth’s livable regions, meaning they will be encountering severe heat, limited food availability and elevated mortality rates.”

Did you know that three-quarters of global greenhouse gas emissions come from burning fossil fuels? The majority of these emissions emanate from our demand for energy. By burning coal, oil and gas, we serve an abundant array of human needs, most notably producing electricity, providing heat, and facilitating transportation.

Carbon emissions don't just come from burning fossil fuels and our demand for energy. Other human activities like agriculture, industrial processes, and waste also play significant roles. 

There are also natural activities that contribute to the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, including volcanic eruptions, and the normal breakdown processes that take place within our environment. And let’s not forget wildfires. This years extraordinary wildfire season in Canada produced 1 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide, equivalent to the entire annual output of Japan, the world’s fifth biggest polluter.

Nature fights against vast amounts of carbon with 'carbon sinks' — plants, soil, and oceans that take in carbon dioxide. Despite these defences, the quantity of carbon emissions produced by human activities continuously overwhelms the natural carbon sinks, resulting in a significant excess of greenhouse gases.

In order to fully comprehend the impact of sports on global emissions, it is important to have a holistic understanding of its place in the larger context:

Agriculture, Forestry and Land 

Agriculture, along with forestry and land use change, contributes to almost one-third of greenhouse gas emissions. These emissions are caused by livestock, fertilisers, and degraded land releasing stored carbon dioxide.

On the flip side, agriculture is significantly impacted by climate change, with farmers facing challenges and having to adapt their methods as a result.

Crop burning and Land degradation 

Crop burning and land degradation result in carbon emissions, through the release of gases such as carbon dioxide and methane.

Land degradation also has a significant impact on the soil's productive capacity, leading to decreased ability to absorb carbon from the atmosphere. Healthy soils play a crucial role in neutralising emissions, as they can absorb more carbon than both the world's plant life and atmosphere combined. Investing in maintaining healthy soils is therefore essential for combatting climate change.

We think the sports industry can play a much greater role here. We already see examples of this in golf with GEO Foundation and Golf Sustainable leading the field.

Livestock 

Livestock is responsible for contributing to 15% of global carbon emissions, mainly via a process known as enteric fermentation. During this, microbes in the animal's digestive system produce methane as a byproduct of food breakdown.

Direct Industrial Process 

Direct industrial processes make up 5% of global emissions, as carbon dioxide is a common byproduct of chemical reactions produced during the manufacture of commodities such as cement, steel, and petrochemicals.

A continual increase in global population and infrastructural needs has escalated the demand for these materials, thereby increasing direct industrial carbon emissions.

Within the sporting domain, these emissions are primarily linked to the construction and maintenance of stadiums and other infrastructural facilities.

The production of sporting goods and merchandise also contributes to this significantly. The carbon footprint of a single pair of synthetic running shoes is at least 8kg CO²e, according to climate and sustainability expert Mike Berners-Lee. Estimates suggest that between ½ billion and 1 billion pairs are sold globally, and the market continues to grow.

Waste 

Waste accounts for 3.2% of global carbon emissions, with the main culprits being wastewater treatment and landfills. Wastewater treatment contributes 1.3% due to the chemical processes required to purify water. Landfills also contribute 1.9%, primarily due to the high levels of methane produced by decaying waste.

At least 200 million pairs of shoes and trainers end up in landfills each year, where they can take 40 years to decompose. Trainers are made with materials that are often not biodegradable, and when they remain in landfills or are incinerated, harmful chemicals go into the soil and air.

Whilst recycling practices can mitigate somewhat, we have to do more to reduce and reuse.

Solutions 

Given the current state, exploring opportunities for sustainable alternatives and regenerative practices, in the world of professional sports is vitally important.

Reducing the carbon footprint of sports events can be achieved through a variety of methods, such as implementing energy-efficient infrastructure, the use of renewable energy sources, and promoting alternative transportation options like public transport or carpooling for spectators.

Sport can be an incredible force for good. And no doubt sport has the potential to be a powerful advocate for environmental awareness and change. Sports organisations can make a real difference, but it requires more than just superficial gestures. They have to become more considerate and take meaningful action, especially when it comes to the ambitions of "growing the game". It is worth noting that David Goldblatt goes even further and advocates for "degrowth".

Thankfully sports fans are taking an ever more active interest in sustainability - it is important they use their voices to hold leaders and policy makers accountable for their decisions.

To truly make an impact we need a collective effort from sports authorities, clubs, players, fans, and all stakeholders involved. Each of us has the opportunity to step up, be bold, and take responsibility for shaping the future of sports.