A weekly round-up of stories from around the world of sport focused on areas of sustainability. This week we drop in on stories from Basketball, Surfing, and Football, and reports or developments at the IOC, the UN and UEFA.
UEFA unveils embodied carbon measurement tool
In a landmark move tied to World Environment Day on June 5th, UEFA launched a tool aimed at standardising the measurement of embodied carbon in football infrastructure.
Unlike operational emissions (like energy use during games), embodied carbon refers to the emissions associated with materials and construction processes.
UEFA’s new methodology provides guidance for clubs and associations to calculate these emissions, encouraging more sustainable planning for new stadiums and renovations.
This initiative is part of UEFA’s broader commitment to reducing football’s environmental footprint and aligns with the EU Green Deal’s emphasis on lifecycle emissions in infrastructure development.
UNEP and Oxford launch biodiversity guidance for sport
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), in partnership with the University of Oxford, has introduced a new guide designed to help sports organisations protect biodiversity.
Released on World Environment Day, the framework offers tiered recommendations for clubs, venues, and leagues to assess and improve their impact on natural ecosystems.
From reducing light pollution at stadiums to restoring habitats near training grounds, the guide encourages a nature-positive approach across the sports sector.
It aims to fill a critical gap by bringing biodiversity into the core sustainability conversation in global sport.
J-League joins the Sport Positive League
Japan’s top football competition, the J-League, became the first Asian league to join the Sport Positive League, a global platform that tracks environmental action in football.
As part of this commitment, the J-League has entered a partnership with ReENE, a Japanese renewable energy company, to implement decarbonisation measures across clubs.
The move is both symbolic and strategic—showcasing how leagues outside Europe are stepping up their climate action efforts and signalling a growing shift toward international environmental collaboration in sport.
IOC President calls for climate urgency in Olympic Movement
Speaking at the Olympic Qualifier Series in Budapest, IOC President Thomas Bach reiterated the Olympic Movement’s responsibility to act on climate change.
He highlighted the success of Paris 2024’s low-carbon strategy, which includes reusing venues and offsetting residual emissions.
Bach urged international federations and National Olympic Committees to adopt similar models and integrate sustainability into every stage of event planning. His remarks reflect mounting pressure on mega-events to move from declarations to measurable, science-based targets.
‘Basketball For Good’ report highlights global impact
A new global impact report published by the SportandDev network on June 6th highlights how basketball is being used as a tool for sustainable development around the world.
Through case studies in Africa, Latin America, and Europe, the report documents how basketball-based programmes are advancing education, gender equality, environmental awareness, and youth empowerment.
One standout initiative in the Philippines combines waste collection with training sessions, linking climate action directly to community sport. The report underlines the growing role of sport as a mechanism for delivering on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Surfing groups advocate for ocean protection at UN Ocean Conference prep meetings
At preparatory meetings for the 2025 UN Ocean Conference, held in South Korea last week, global surfing organisations joined marine scientists and NGOs to call for stronger protections for coastal ecosystems.
Groups like Surfrider Foundation and Save the Waves Coalition highlighted the cultural and economic value of surfing communities, arguing that sustainable sport can be a driver of ocean conservation.
They advocated for blue carbon initiatives, cleaner water standards, and greater investment in nature-based solutions tied to sport tourism. Their presence marks a growing voice for action from ocean-based sports within the global environmental agenda.
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