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How sport can spread the word about the climate emergency
TL;DR
Sport is being leveraged to raise awareness about the climate emergency, linking food systems and greenhouse gas emissions. A recent National Emergency Briefing highlighted the role of elite athletes in promoting plant-rich diets as a solution to climate challenges.
Key points
- Sport can spread awareness about the climate emergency.
- The National Emergency Briefing gathered experts to discuss climate challenges.
- Food systems contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions.
- Elite athletes are adopting plant-rich diets for health and climate benefits.
It wasn’t so long ago that UK government briefings from Downing Street were essential viewing. Professors Chris Whitty and Patrick Vallance were household names in Britain and there was a roaring trade in “next slide please” mugs. Four years after the final Covid lectern was put away comes an attempt to alert the public to another emergency – the climate and nature emergency. And sport could be the secret weapon in spreading the word.
The National Emergency Briefing was held in London last November, in front of over 1,000 guests including MPs. It brought together experts from the fields of nature, climate, tipping points, weather extremes, food security, health, national security, economics and energy transition to sum up the scale of the challenge ahead and what could be done about it. A condensed version of the day was made into a 45-minute film, The People’s Emergency Briefing, which was released earlier this month, with backers including the British Ecological Society and the Campaign to Protect Rural England.
Prof Paul Behrens, sustainability scientist and British Academy Global Professor at Oxford University, is the film’s food security spokesman. He is also a huge sports fan. “There’s a tighter link between sport and food than we think,” he says. “Our food system is responsible for around 30% of global greenhouse gas emissions and is the single biggest driver of nature loss. That means what we eat is one of the biggest levers any of us has on the climate and nature crisis.
“A number of high-profile elite athletes across football, tennis, motor sport, and endurance sport have adopted plant-rich diets. It turns out that more plants in our diets help our health, and those diets are remarkably similar to what’s good for the planet. And climate change is now pushing back from the other direction too by destabilising the food supply that feeds us. It’s also impacting how we play sport, exercise, and run competitions. A better diet with more plants is genuinely one of the rare win-win-wins. Better for climate, nature, our health, and our bank balance.”
Q&A
How can sport help raise awareness about climate change?
Sport can engage large audiences and promote sustainable practices, particularly through athletes advocating for plant-rich diets that benefit both health and the environment.
What was discussed at the National Emergency Briefing in London?
The briefing addressed the climate and nature emergency, featuring experts discussing challenges related to food security, health, and the economy.
What impact does the food system have on climate change?
The food system is responsible for around 30% of global greenhouse gas emissions and is the largest driver of nature loss.
Which athletes are promoting plant-rich diets for climate awareness?
High-profile athletes from sports like football, tennis, and motorsport have adopted plant-rich diets to promote health and environmental sustainability.
