RUSSELL SEYMOUR
POLICY
CEO BASIS
Sustainability in sport - where are we? prominently in the news last
© SHUTTERSTOCK/ SEEPHOTOS
C
limate change featured The storms caused widespread damage to sports facilities
year, as the UK hosted the COP26 talks in November 2021
– but what has happened since? A new climate change report has recently been published by the IPCC, the body that advises the UN on climate change issues. Unsurprisingly, given the situation in Ukraine at the current time, its exposure in the news media was limited. Nonetheless, its contents are worth highlighting. The report tries to assess where we are now – what are the current impacts? Are we adapting? Where are we vulnerable? It paints a bleak picture, unless we take urgent action now. Key conclusions are: ● Bad weather events are more frequent, more intense, are widespread and extend
STORMS DUDLEY, EUNICE AND FRANKLIN ALL HIT OUR SHORES WITHIN FIVE DAYS, BRINGING SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE AND FLOODING – AND IMPACTING SPORT
beyond natural climate variability ● The events are following what the
unusual weather patterns in the UK it is
science has predicted, but they are at
undeniable that the impacts of climate
the very top of those predictions and are
change are being felt more strongly and
happening more quickly than expected
more urgently in less developed countries.
● Approaching a half of the world’s
So where does sport sit in all of this? Of
population (3.3 to 3.6 billion people)
course, where there is immediate danger to
are already feeling significant
life and substantial damage to property, this
effects of climate change.
is the priority, but sport can be used as a
Over the course of five days in February,
medium to talk about these issues. More than
storms Dudley, Eunice and Franklin hit our
any other human endeavour, sport has the
shores within five days, bringing significant
power to unite people in a common cause.
damage and flooding and impacting sport
The most frequent question I am asked is
through damage to tracks, pitches and other
“What is the one best thing that I can do?”
facilities. Our geography and our general
I’m often tempted to ‘borrow’ the simple
climate means that the UK is relatively
two-word answer of the great Sir David
insulated from the worst aspects of climate
Attenborough: “Don’t waste” – great practical
change at the moment, but the predictions
advice. But even more important is to talk
are for more extreme weather impacts
about these issues – start a conversation with
in the future. We should also remember
family, with friends, with suppliers or clients.
that while we are feeling the effects of
You might be surprised at the result. ●
SPORTSNATION.ORG.UK MAR/APR 2022
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