Problem
Environmental impact of sports
Other Names:
Lack of environmental sustainability in sports Nature:
Modern day sports in and of themselves carry a relatively light impact on the environment. However, the industry of sports – stadiums, games, fans, merchandise, etc. – are causing major environmental harm.
According to the The United Nations Environment Programme: “Building and managing a sport facility and operating an event uses energy and can contribute to air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions and waste generation, as well as to ozone-layer depletion, habitat and biodiversity loss, soil erosion and water pollution.” The impacts — which are common in large public organizations, and hardly limited to sports — include damage to fragile ecosystems, noise and light pollution, energy use and emissions, soil and water pollution and waste generation.
Broader Problems:
Natural environmental degradation from recreation and tourismSocial environmental degradation from recreation and tourismUnsustainable development Narrower Problems:
Dangerous sporting activityInadequate sports equipmentEnvironmental damage by climbersEnvironmental degradation by off-road and all-terrain vehiclesEnvironmental effects of snowmobilesOverdevelopment of golf courses Aggravates:
Sports accidentsAir pollutionNoise pollutionLoss of biodiversity through pollutionGreenwashingExploitation of fossil fuels Organizations:
Global Sports Alliance (GSA)Green Sports Alliance (GSA)European Network of Outdoor Sports (ENOS)International Olympic Committee (IOC) Related UN Sustainable Development Goals:
Problem Type:
D: Detailed problems Date of last update
17.03.2021 – 15:20 CET