UEFA calls attention to the ‘significant issue’ of making sport sustainable

UEFA, football’s governing body in Europe, has released a new report emphasising the urgent need to make sport more sustainable.

The report, called Playing for our Planet, was produced with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and contains examples of how making the transition to sustainability is both necessary and comes with major benefits.

The upsides of embedding sustainability include reduced costs from efficiency savings; reduced impacts from climate change; and greater innovation in infrastructure and operations.

Sport has a unique ability to engage tens of millions of people around the world; the report makes clear that if clubs and institutions accelerate their efforts then their reach will be “unparalleled”.

However, as the report makes clear few sports bodies “can truly say they are tackling sustainability in full.” World Sailing is one of them, and it has created a sustainability strategy with clear objectives. These are underlined by three pillars: environmental, social and economic. Its work to incorporate sustainability across all associations within its 146 member countries recently earned the federation an international accreditation.

The French Ministry of Sports has also signed a charter with 15 environmental commitments. These cover cutting waste, promoting sustainable transport, and reducing energy consumption.

“Sustainability is one of the most significant issues facing decision-makers and opinion leaders in sport as they prepare for the future,” said UEFA’s President Aleksander Čeferin.

“The activities showcased from around Europe show a great innovative spirit, and demonstrate that sport can contribute to sustainable causes at all levels,” he added.

“From a Sunday kickabout in the park to grand tournaments, all sports rely on nature’s bounty…And all sporting organisations have a responsibility to care for the environment and inspire millions of fans and players around the world about sustainability and nature,” said WWF global partnerships director Jochem Verberne.

The report has been backed by the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, Green Sports Alliance, and the European Commission It follows UEFA’s recent agreement with the Commission to acceleration sustainable development at football venues across Europe.