What's stopping more athletes from speaking out?
For many athletes the biggest barrier is confidence, as some worry they do not know enough about sustainability or fear criticism if they say the wrong thing.
Others are concerned about being accused of hypocrisy because sport inevitably involves travel and the use of resources.
But athletes do not need all the answers. Their role is not to become climate experts.
Their value lies in sharing their experiences of how environmental change is affecting their sport, their communities and the places they care about.
How we're helping
Together with Team England and the British Association for Sustainable Sport, we've developed a practical sustainability toolkit (available in the 'Sustainable future' heading).
Its aim is to help athletes feel confident speaking about the issues that matter to them and their sport.
Rather than turning athletes into climate experts, the toolkit encourages them to start with their own experiences, connect sustainability to performance, wellbeing and fairness, and to share positive stories about change happening in their communities.
The document reinforces a simple but powerful message – athletes can lead without being experts and sustainability is about progress, not perfection.
By providing practical talking points and guidance on navigating challenging conversations, the toolkit is helping athletes use their voices to inspire action and protect the places where we play, train and compete.
What else is needed?
Athletes cannot drive change alone. To unlock their full potential as sustainability advocates, the wider sport sector must play its part.
That means governing bodies, clubs, event organisers and sponsors that build environments where athletes feel supported and empowered to speak up.
It also means highlighting and supporting practical solutions and communities that are already taking action.
One example is Whalley Range Cricket Club in inner-city Manchester, which has adapted its facilities to become more resilient to flooding.
When athletes can connect their personal stories to examples like these, sustainability becomes tangible, positive and relevant.
That is often the first step towards inspiring others to act.
The opportunity for sport
By giving athletes the confidence, knowledge and support to speak up, we can unlock one of sport's most influential forces for change and demonstrate that sustainability is part of a stronger future for sport.
Because protecting the environment is not separate from protecting sport. It is the same mission and athletes can help lead that movement and inspire collective action, simply by sharing their story.
