The concept of sustainability is now recurring in the media world; from being a term unknown to most, it has become an inescapable element in the action (and communication) of all kinds of companies, so much so that by now it has almost fallen into the trivial or even to being no longer credible in certain contexts. Often, however, people are not clear about the origin of this term. First used back in 1992, during the first UN Conference on Environment and Development held in Rio de Janeiro, sustainability is defined in environmental and economic sciences as “the ability to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” [1]. 

Our planet’s resources must be used responsibly and equitably while preserving natural systems and biodiversity in the long term. However, the concept of sustainability has gained increasing attention from business and the sports industry, the wealthy sports leagues of the United States of America especially are leading the way in the green transition in this field [2].

The NBA (National Basketball Association) has demonstrated a strong commitment to environmental sustainability through the “NBA Green” initiative. This program aims to: “reduce the environmental impact of the league’s operations and its teams by promoting sustainable practices and increasing awareness of environmental issues” [4]. Below are some of the results achieved in the 2022-2023 season:

1. Greenhouse gas emissions assessment: The NBA completed an initial greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions assessment for all NBA offices and league-operated events. This assessment is critical to understanding environmental impacts and planning for further reductions.
2. Leadership in sustainability: 62% of NBA arenas now have “sustainability leaders,” with 14% of these individuals dedicated solely to promoting sustainable practices. This significant increase underscores the importance of sustainability within league facilities.
3. Reduction in flight miles: During the 2022-2023 season, NBA teams reduced flight miles by 11%, improving player health and reducing greenhouse gas emissions from team travel by 39%.
4. Climate Change Discussions: The NBA hosted its first workshop at a conference to discuss the effects of climate change and environmental injustices in sports. This event helped raise awareness and promote concrete action against climate change.
5. Food Recovery and Donation: During the 2023 NBA All-Star Game, 4,000 pounds of food were recovered, providing approximately 3,400 meals to local community organizations and preventing 1.16 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions from food waste.

The third item listed above surely represents one of the most significant environmental problems facing the whole sports industry, including the NBA. This problem refers to the carbon emissions produced by team travel. During the regular season (excluding the playoffs), each of the 30 teams in the league plays a total of 82 games, with 41 being away games.

It goes without saying that in a country the size of the United States, 9,834,000 km² in area (the third largest nation in the world by surface area), this level of travel generates a significant amount of carbon emissions and other environmental impacts, contributing to climate change. In the 2018-2019 season, the NBA was the most polluting of the four major U.S. sports leagues (NFL, NHL, MLB) in terms of travel, with each team having to travel thousands of miles to play games [2]. However, U.S. sports organizations have begun to take serious steps to address this problem, such as investing in renewable energy and offsetting their carbon emissions through various types of actions. One such action, for example, has been to make changes to the schedule, reducing the hours and number of air travel required [2]. Some franchises are in fact based in the same city, the Lakers and the Clippers (Los Angeles) the Knicks and the Nets (New York), or at least in the same state within a short distance of each other, such as the Heat and the Magic (Miami-Orlando, Florida). So instead of playing against these teams weeks or months apart, there is a tendency for opponents to stay in the same city for several days, playing two away games consecutively and avoiding having to return to the same place several times.

Moreover, it’s important to emphasize that a scientist, Dr. Allen Hershkowitz, is leading the league’s overall sustainability strategy, not just any marketing manager. He sees the NBA as a platform to reach a wider audience than just the scientific community [4]. According to his study, “less than 20% of adults in the United States say they follow science news and updates regarding climate change, while more than 80% follow sports in its various disciplines” [4]. 

The NBA aims to be not only a beacon of innovation and entertainment in the sports world but also wants to establish itself as a leader in environmental sustainability. Through initiatives such as “NBA Green“, the league demonstrates that it is possible to reconcile top-notch sports performance and entertainment with a concrete commitment to protecting the planet and its natural resources. In an era when the term sustainability is often used out of hand, the NBA sets out to chart a course that other sports organizations can follow and emulate, to breathe new life into a concept that has become constantly overblown.

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Cover- and preview image: Ball-shaped planet Earth going into a basket. Image by Валентин Симеонов from Pixabay