Regarding the growing climate emergency, sports find themselves at a crucial crossroads. The environmental crisis spares no part of civil society, and athletes — key figures in the global sports movement — are also called upon to play an active role in protecting our planet. World Athletics, the international governing body for the sport (including track and field, road running, cross-country, mountain running and trail running) with 214 member federations, has recently published its “Athlete Sustainability Guide” [1], a resource aimed at athletes of all levels to encourage them to adopt sustainable behaviours and become ambassadors of the green transition.

In April 2020, World Athletics also announced its 2020–2030 Sustainability Strategy, whose central objective is to make the organization carbon neutral by 2030. The ten-year strategy is designed to deliver tangible benefits across the three pillars of sustainability — environmental, social, and economic — using the power of sport and athletics to create a better world for communities. It includes also a broad commitment to adopting sustainability principles and practices within its operations, affiliated federations, and the planning of future World Athletics Series events [2]. 

Moreover, on Earth Day 2021, the association became a proud signatory of the UNFCCC Sports for Climate Action Framework, an initiative that supports and guides sports organizations to measure, reduce, and offset their carbon emissions in line with the Paris Agreement [2].

The guide itself on the other hand is part of the broader “Athletics for a Better World” program, through which World Athletics promotes sustainable practices in the organization of sporting events and the daily management of athletic activities. The concrete aim of the guide is to help athletes understand the impact of their actions on the environment and to offer practical tools to reduce their ecological footprint — in daily life, during training, in competitions, and while traveling [1].

Top athletes of various disciplines have a significant influence on society, as they are often role models for the younger generations, they are followed by millions of people, and they enjoy global media visibility. This gives them an important responsibility in encouraging positive change.
Indeed, global warming has already started to have significant direct impacts on the world of sports. The increase in extreme weather events, rising temperatures, worsening air quality, and water scarcity in many regions of the world are just some of the challenges threatening training conditions, athletes’ health, and the actual feasibility of competitions.

The guide offers a set of simple actions that athletes can easily incorporate into their daily lives [1]. Here are some examples:

• Sustainable mobility: using bicycles or public transport to get to training or competitions, when possible, is an effective way to reduce CO2 emissions from transportation.
• Responsible nutrition: choosing local, seasonal, and plant-based products helps reduce the environmental impact of food production.
• Waste reduction: avoiding single-use plastics, using reusable water bottles, and purchasing durable, repairable sports equipment are recommended practices to reduce waste generation.
• Conscious consumption: buying less, but better — prioritizing ethically and sustainably made sportswear — supports a greener economy.

One of the most impactful aspects for international-level athletes, and not only them, involves travel. Frequent flights, private transport, and high-energy-consuming accommodations significantly increase emissions associated with event participation [1]. On this point, the guide suggests:

• Choosing lower-impact transport options, such as trains or buses, for regional or national trips.
• Offsetting flight emissions through certified carbon offset programs.
• Promoting sustainable practices among event organizers, such as eliminating single-use plastics and using renewable energy.

Figure 1: Starting lanes of a track. Image by Pexels from Pixabay.