Supporting athletes to speak up for sustainability

by Andrew Coley-Maud

Head of environmental sustainability, Sport England

Climate change is no longer a future challenge for sport. It’s already affecting where, when and how we play.

Flooded pitches, damaged facilities, rising operating costs and periods of extreme heat are disrupting sport from grassroots participation through to elite competition, and athletes across the Commonwealth are seeing these impacts first-hand.

That gives them a powerful voice, not as climate experts, but as trusted figures who can help people understand what environmental change means for the sports and places they care about.

Because whether it’s protecting local playing fields, improving air and water quality or ensuring facilities remain accessible and resilient, sustainability is ultimately about protecting the future of sport itself.