This article was produced and funded by Norwegian Sports Academy – Read more.

Clubs and athletes can take action, but smarter organization from the top is essential.

Climate change is one of our biggest challenges. They affect everyone, including sports. And sport leaves its environmental mark.

Climate change can especially affect winter sports. They must have a very cool climate. It is therefore in the best interest of sport to be part of the solution.

Continuity?

This term is used differently. Businesses and politicians speak from the UN’s sustainability goals, but also about the possibility of creating material development and growth.

– As researchers, we need to be more precise and clear about what we mean by the term. Then the definitions tend to be narrower, says Morten Renslo Sandvik at the Norwegian Institute of Sports Studies (NIH).

– I prefer to talk about ecological sustainability, about managing natural resources in such a way that nature and ecosystems can survive.

Sports organizations are working on this. Association of sport with long-term strategy and individual clubs with individual actions.

– Several clubs, teams and sports circles are aware of the problem. Golf clubs are aware of land use and motor sports clubs are aware of the problems their activities cause, says Morten Renslo Sandvik.

A number of clubs and sports then set off on their own. Diving clubs pick up trash on the ocean floor, and it’s been a long time since we heard about plogging for the first time: jogging by picking trash.

– The beauty here is that the athletes combine the activity they are doing, with an effort for the environment.

All levels matter

In addition, there are measures at the confederation level, such as the Ski Association’s focus on fluoride. Sport is working on this at all levels, and while not all of them are on point, there is a lot of positive work underway, he believes.

– Sustainability also goes beyond the sport itself, says researcher Chris Horbel of the NIH. Because sport not only becomes more sustainable, it can also inspire others.

– The clubs themselves have done a lot of things right, for example with exhibitions of used equipment and a focus on water and energy consumption. Proper waste handling is also widespread, says Horbel.

He says that individuals, for example, can do a lot to limit transportation by carpooling.

But proper organization – at a higher level – is just as important.

– Tournaments and competitions can be combined so that less transportation is required.

– Find partners

The two believe that sports teams must also think beyond themselves. That they can make better use of resources outside of the sport itself, as home teams tend to have few resources.

– They can get partners to start the action. Sponsors of equipment, partners who donate food for events, or who can help with transportation and logistics. There’s a lot to be gained here, says Chris Horbel.

Listen to Morten Renslo Sandvik and Chris Horbel in this episode of the NIH podcast: