Nelson Mandela once remarked that sports can foster hope amid despair. However, by 2026, this view may seem overly positive. While sports continue to connect diverse groups like a universal language, they face significant challenges. The fields, rivers, oceans, mountains, parks, and air essential for athletic activities are deteriorating due to fossil fuel emissions, as the climate crisis reshapes the world of sports. This is the focus of The Hotspot, the Guardian’s new biweekly newsletter dedicated to the intersection of sports and climate issues. Beyond reporting on current and upcoming changes, the newsletter aims to highlight compelling stories and propose solutions, delving into the details. Globally, severe weather events such as floods, storms, and wildfires have canceled events and rendered venues unusable. Rising temperatures and pollution endanger both amateur and professional athletes, increasing risks of heat-related illnesses, asthma, and heart conditions. During last year’s Shanghai Masters, tennis player Holger Rune questioned an official about the dangers, asking if they wanted a player to collapse on court. High pollution and extreme heat also heighten injury risks and impair performance, affecting officials and fans as well. Nations vulnerable to climate change face greater threats. Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley noted that participants must compete under existing conditions, not ideal ones. Yet, wealthier countries and sports organizations often ignore these issues. Author David Goldblatt calculates that the sports industry’s carbon emissions rival those of a mid-sized nation, comparable to Cuba or Poland. Despite sustainability rhetoric, the sector pursues relentless expansion for greater profits. It draws sponsorship from authoritarian regimes and fossil fuel firms, echoing past tobacco industry tactics. According to the 2024 ‘Dirty Money’ report by the New Weather Institute, state and private oil companies invest at least $5.6 billion in 205 sports sponsorship deals worldwide. The 2024 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, which relied on diverted river water for artificial snow, was backed by oil firm Eni. The upcoming men’s football World Cup, labeled the most polluting by Scientists for Global Responsibility with emissions 92% higher than average tournaments from 2010-2022, features ads from Aramco, the top corporate greenhouse gas emitter. Fans are responding actively, as sports inspire action—from evening runs to late-night viewings. Groups like Surfers Against Sewage, Fossil Free Football, FrontRunners, and Protect Our Winters are mobilizing against these trends. Teams such as Forest Green Rovers and athletes like Australian cricket captain Pat Cummins are voicing concerns. Clubs like Fillongley CC, featured at the UK pavilion during Cop30, promote environmental restoration. Sports are partnering with eco-friendly sponsors, including Northern Rail with Rugby’s Super League and cricket with Metrobank, approved by Bank Green. Oxford United released a special jersey depicting John Ruskin’s ‘Study of a Wild Rose’ to celebrate an Ashmolean Museum exhibition on plants’ global impact. There remains untapped potential in fan engagement and data analysis, appealing to enthusiasts and experts alike. Sports excel at dramatic comebacks, and the planet requires such resilience now. Contact us with your thoughts, suggestions, or ideas at thehotspot@theguardian.com. Additional recommendations include Katharine Hayhoe’s idea that hairdressers could spark climate discussions—perhaps extending to locker rooms. An insightful opinion piece by Frank Huisingh of Fossil Free Football. BBC Radio 4’s Rare Earth program explores the limits of sports growth, with contributions from Claire Poole of Sport Positive, footballer Morten Thorsby, and professor Peter Frankopan. Related sports stories: Efforts by Black Country volunteers to address England’s highest inactivity rates through grassroots initiatives. Proposals to decentralize the World Cup to avoid influence from figures like Putin and Trump. The convergence of drone racing and military applications, blurring lines between war and sport. Environmental updates: German mayors seek restrictions on robotic lawnmowers to safeguard hedgehogs. Experts indicate new North Sea oil drilling would minimally affect UK gas imports. Paris’s transformation by prioritizing bicycles over cars in urban planning.
