How Climate Change Impacts Sports

As climate change accelerates, its impact on the global sports industry becomes impossible to ignore. From canceled games to redesigned uniforms, the climate crisis is reshaping how, where, and if we play.

Extreme heatwaves and worsening air quality are already forcing the cancellation of major outdoor events—from marathons to football matches—due to health risks for athletes and fans. At the 2020 Australian Open, several players collapsed or withdrew due to smoke and 40°C heat. According to NOAA, the number of extreme heat days has more than doubled in many cities since the 1980s.

Winter sports are among the most vulnerable. A 2020 study predicts that by 2050, only half of previous Winter Olympic host cities will remain cold enough to host future games. Snowfall has become more unpredictable, with ski resorts increasingly relying on artificial snow—raising energy and water use.

Climate-related weather events like storms, wildfires, and floods are disrupting travel and logistics. Teams face cancelled flights, closed roads, and delays, complicating global tournament scheduling. This affects not just athletes, but fans, equipment, and media coverage too.

Sea level rise and coastal flooding pose long-term risks to stadiums, race tracks, and golf courses. A 2021 study found that 23 major stadiums globally are at risk of flooding by 2100. Low-lying venues like Hard Rock Stadium (Miami) and parts of Tokyo are among the most exposed.

Apparel brands like Adidas and Nike are evolving with UV-protective, breathable, and sustainable sportswear. Cooling fabrics, lighter materials, and eco-conscious design are becoming essential for performance in hotter climates.

How Sports Impact Climate Change

Major sports events are spectacles of creativity and coordination—but they come at a significant environmental cost. The global sports sector contributes an estimated 30 to 300 million tons of CO₂ annually, depending on how impacts are measured (Collins et al., 2020). This includes emissions from air travel, stadium energy use, supply chains, and merchandising.

• Air Travel: Teams, fans, and equipment often fly across continents, with travel accounting for up to 60–70% of a sport event’s total emissions.
• Stadiums & Arenas: Massive venues consume enormous energy for lighting, HVAC, large screens, and maintenance. For example, Qatar’s 2022 World Cup stadiums were cooled using energy-intensive air systems.
• Motorsports: Rally and F1 races are fuel-heavy, but over 70% of emissions come from logistics and global team transport—not the races themselves.
• Merchandising & Waste: Event-related food, drinks, and souvenirs generate mountains of single-use plastics and packaging, with many stadiums producing 10–15 tons of waste per game.
• Sportswear Pollution: Most sportswear is made of synthetic fibers, contributing to microplastic pollution. Globally, textiles release 500,000 tons of microplastics into oceans every year.
• Ceremonial Waste: Opening and closing events—filled with pyrotechnics, LED shows, and temporary installations—often produce large carbon spikes and end as landfill.

References

Adidas. “Sustainability.” Adidas-Group.com, 2019, www.adidas-group.com/en/sustainability/.