As climate action accelerates, sports organisations are embracing sustainability to stay competitive and relevant. With increasing pressure from governments, sponsors, and fans for measurable climate initiatives, sustainability has become both a necessity and an opportunity. Early adopters have not only gained a competitive edge but also positioned themselves as industry leaders in shaping the future of sustainable sports.

The Growing Importance of Sustainability for Sports Organisations

In Europe, the regulatory landscape is evolving to mandate that sports organisations measure and manage their carbon emissions. The European Green Deal, aiming for carbon neutrality by 2050, has led to initiatives such as the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), which requires organisations, including those in the sports sector, to disclose their environmental impacts.

Simultaneously, stakeholders, including fans and athletes, are increasingly demanding climate action from sports organisations. A 2022 Statista survey revealed that 48% of sports fans worldwide are willing to pay more for sustainable energy. Athletes are also voicing concerns; for instance, 77% of respondents in a World Athletics survey expressed willingness to change their lifestyles to reduce environmental impact. This growing pressure from stakeholders is compelling sports organisations to adopt more sustainable practices and transparently report their carbon footprints.

The Sustainability Momentum from Olympic Games

The Paris 2024 Olympics set a new benchmark for integrating sustainability into large-scale events. One of its most notable achievements was in carbon accounting, where advanced reporting systems effectively measured and offset emissions. The event also prioritised sustainable infrastructure, with 95% of venues being pre-existing or temporary, significantly reducing construction waste. Additionally, the games were powered entirely by renewable energy, further minimising their environmental impact. Fan participation played a key role with spectators encouraged to use public transport, reducing their collective carbon footprint.

These efforts led to a 50% reduction in carbon emissions compared to previous Olympic Games, proving that sustainability is not just an ideal but an essential and achievable goal for the future of sports.

The Growing Responsibility for Sports to Address Environmental Impact

Sports organisations have a growing responsibility to track and mitigate their environmental impact as climate concerns rise. With high emissions from travel, stadium operations, and merchandise, sustainability is essential.

Climate champions like the European Cyclists' Federation (ECF) and the European Network of Outdoor Sports (ENOS) are key advocates for sustainable sports and environmental responsibility. The ECF promotes cycling as an eco-friendly mode of transport by pushing for better cycling infrastructure and policies that reduce carbon emissions.

Similarly, ENOS focuses on the sustainable development of outdoor sports, advocating for responsible access to natural landscapes and environmental education. Both organisations play important roles in encouraging active lifestyles while minimising environmental impact.

United Nations (UN) Sports for Climate Action

The UN Sports for Climate Action initiative offers a global framework for sports organisations to drive meaningful environmental change. It encourages organisations to commit to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, alongside the obligation to measure and report their carbon footprints accurately. Co-launched by United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the IOC, it guides organisations to implement strategies aimed at reducing environmental impacts across operations and events.

Through its Race to Zero campaign, the initiative has inspired many organisations to take decisive action, showcasing that sustainability is not just a goal but an achievable reality at every level of sport.

Sports for Nature

The Sports for Nature initiative also co-launched with the IOC, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) aims to integrate biodiversity considerations into sports by 2030, guiding organisations in protecting and restoring nature, reducing environmental risks, and using their platform to inspire conservation.

Signatories include the Swiss Golf Federation who promote sustainable golf course management; European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR), who advocate for biodiversity protection in rugby; and World Sailing, who are dedicated to preserving marine ecosystems and reducing the environmental impact of sailing events. By joining the framework, these organisations reinforce sports' role in driving environmental sustainability.

Success Stories: Sports Organisations Leading the Way

European sports organisations are setting remarkable examples in sustainability. The European Tour Group, has integrated environmentalism into its core golfing operations through the 'Green Drive' campaign, committing to net-zero emissions by 2040 and publicly reporting its progress.

World Archery, a signatory of the UN Sports for Climate Action framework is committed to reducing its carbon emissions by at least 10% each year. The federation has embarked on a mission to reassess their operations to find ways in which daily decisions and actions are contributing factors to a more sustainable sport. Their environmental impact assessment has identified, and therefore set their focus on, three key areas: water, transportation and waste management.

In 2024, the International Table Tennis Federation released its Sustainability (Planet) Action Plan 2025, outlining strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2040. The plan focuses on governance, direct and indirect impact reduction, and community engagement.

Meanwhile, Cycling Without Age (Denmark) has transformed urban mobility by offering free trishaw rides to the elderly, fostering community connections while promoting sustainable transport.

These success stories highlight how sports organisations of all sizes can lead meaningful sustainability efforts.

Benefits of Sustainability in Sports

Enhanced Cost Savings and Operational Efficiency

Implementing sustainability starts with understanding your environmental impact. Carbon accounting goes beyond environmental stewardship; it also drives significant cost savings by optimising stadium energy use, reducing merchandise supply chain expenses and minimising waste disposal fees.

Regulatory Compliance and Risk Mitigation

As global sustainability standards tighten, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) mandates that sports bodies and host cities measure, reduce, and offset carbon emissions, aiming for climate-positive Games by 2030.

By adopting carbon accounting, organisations can stay ahead of these evolving regulations, mitigate potential risks, and strengthen their credibility, resilience, and long-term sustainability in the sports industry.

Enhanced Reputation and Positive Impact

Fans and sponsors are increasingly drawn to environmentally responsible organisations, valuing those that actively measure and reduce their carbon footprint. This not only strengthens brand loyalty but also attracts eco-conscious partners.

Beyond operational benefits, sustainability efforts inspire fans to adopt greener lifestyles, amplifying the organisation’s positive impact and reinforcing its role as a leader in promoting environmental responsibility within sports.

Challenges in Achieving Sustainability for Sports Organisations

While the benefits of sustainability are clear, implementing these practices presents several challenges for sports organisations.

Resource constraints

Resource constraints can be a significant barrier, especially for smaller organisations that may lack the funding or expertise required for robust carbon accounting systems. Additionally, financial limitations can hinder sustainability initiatives, as implementing eco-friendly solutions often requires upfront investment. From upgrading facilities with renewable energy to integrating sustainable supply chains, the costs can be prohibitive.

Data Collection

Complex data collection poses difficulties as measuring emissions across diverse operations, ranging from energy use to transportation, can be daunting and time-consuming.

Knowledge gaps

There are also knowledge gaps, with many organisations unfamiliar with carbon accounting standards or effective strategies for reducing their environmental impact.

A carbon accounting software partner can help by automating accurate emissions tracking, identifying reduction opportunities, ensuring regulatory compliance, and enhancing transparency for fans, sponsors, and other stakeholders.

How Evalue8 helps you take control of your sustainability journey

Leveraging a powerful reporting tool enables sports bodies to streamline sustainability reporting, align with global standards like GHG Protocol and SBTi, and support verified carbon offset projects for long-term impact. With data-driven insights and forecasting, sports organisations can effectively meet sustainability goals, reduce emissions, and strengthen their leadership in climate action.

Evalue8 Sustainability Pty Ltd (Evalue8) is a specialist software company that provides a sustainability platform for organisations to effortlessly navigate the complexities of environmental accountability and accelerate their sustainability journey with automated carbon accounting.

Our software helps small and medium organisations track their emissions over time and generate clear reporting so stakeholders can easily understand your organisation’s sustainability performance, fostering trust and credibility.

We help organisations develop an emissions reduction plan by providing data driven insights that identify opportunities for potential savings, operational efficiency and continuous improvement.

If you’re looking for software to help you measure, report and reduce your emissions with the guidance of carbon experts, schedule a demo with us today.

Conclusion

Sports organisations have a unique ability to inspire change, both on and off the field. In a world where sustainability is a competitive advantage, leveraging technology-driven climate action not only ensures regulatory compliance but also reduces operational costs, enhances brand reputation and long-term success.