Sport and climate change: A sector facing both risk and responsibility

This is an introductory paper for the special issue "Sport in Society, Challenges, tensions and opportunities: Sport and climate change" published in Sport in Society, examining the growing relationship between sport and climate change, highlighting both the environmental impacts of sport and the increasing threats climate change poses to sport participation and organization. The issue is important because climate change is already disrupting sport through extreme heat, lack of snow, drought, erosion, and changing weather conditions, while sport itself contributes to environmental degradation. The authors emphasize that sport has both a responsibility and an opportunity to contribute to climate solutions due to its global cultural influence and emotional significance.

Many sport organizations and stakeholders remain insufficiently prepared to address climate-related challenges and sustainability demands. Across the studies presented in the special issue, recurring tensions emerged between environmental responsibility, commercial pressures, traditional sport structures, and performance-oriented cultures. At the same time, the authors identify strong potential for sport to become a platform for climate awareness, environmental education, and behavioral change.

Sport organizations, researchers, and policymakers must prioritize environmental sustainability and climate adaptation across all levels of sport. The researchers also call for greater innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and critical reflection on the role of sport in society to help develop more sustainable futures for sport participation and management.

CITE: Larneby, M., Svensson, D., & Hedenborg, S. (2025). Challenges, tensions and opportunities: sport and climate change. Sport in Society, 28(10), 1429-1433. DOI: 10.1080/17430437.2025.2560751