Think Beyond’s Post

Could you run a marathon in 45 degree heat and smog? No? Neither can elite athletes who are being directly impacted by climate change - with air quality and heat disrupting both training schedules and the city-based they compete. Three-quarters (75%) of athletes perceive a direct negative impact on their health and performance due to climate change with 85% expressing that the sport of athletics has experienced adverse consequences. Startlingly, at least 6 of the Athletics Federations covered by World Athletics could be underwater in 20 years time. This sobering stat and the acute need for action has pushed Athletics to become one of the world’s leading sports and loudest voices on sustainability. Today World Athletics scooped the award for Elite Organisation of the Year at the BBC Green Sport awards today after launching their Athletics for a Better World (ABW) Standards, which set a number of environmental, social and governance obligations that host cities or venues need to adhere to if they want to run a World Athletics-sanctioned event. Once the thing you love is both obviously and existentially threatened you take action. Maybe, despite some great work by concerned organisations, a contributing factor to the slower pace of change within other sports is that the link isn’t perceived as acute yet? But the signs are there - with flooded pitch ‘events’ like at Wimbledon FC a couple of weeks ago and 1000’s of grassroots football games being cancelled each week, there’s no doubt Climate Change is…coming home. Each sport will have it's own 'catalyst moment' when this really hits.  But why wait? In the meantime, World Athletics are out in front.  Check out their Better World program here:  https://lnkd.in/erfDfKrr Clear, focused, well-coordinated, actionable, setting high standard targets globally from a governing body and aligned with the SDGs. If they can do it, others can. Agree? #BBCGreenSportAwards #Sustainability #ClimateChange #Sport

🌍 We're thrilled to announce that the SportEYE - Research Report is now live! The report reveals a growing commitment to sustainability, with sports organisations integrating environmental protection, human rights, and inclusivity into their core operations. From recycling programmes to eco-awareness campaigns, these initiatives are making an impact on local communities and a sustainable future. Our work highlights the crucial role sports can play in promoting sustainability, and the educational tools we're developing will empower sports managers, staff, and coaches to lead these efforts. Key recommendations for future actions include: - Continued support for sustainability strategies within sports organisations. - Stronger collaboration between sports entities and educational institutions. - A robust monitoring and evaluation framework to track progress. Explore the full report and see how collective efforts in the sports sector are contributing to a greener future: https://lnkd.in/gstuBWss PLAY International European Football for Development Network International Olympic Truce Centre Fundación Fútbol Más España Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore European Commission Real Betis Balompié International Centre for Sport Security #SportEYE

🚨 Reminder to enter Sport Positive Awards 2024: Deadline July 26 🚨 🏆 We launched Sport Positive Awards this year, and alongside celebrating progress, we also want to unearth efforts from individuals and groups doing great work on sport x climate/sustainability/biodiversity/ justice globally that perhaps aren't as well known 🌍 I've had emails from people saying they'll apply next year, because they feel their work is not 'Awards-worthy' yet. I'm here to tell you that if you are effecting positive change at any level through sport to tackle the climate crisis, it IS Awards-worthy 💡 So if you or any individuals, community groups or sports organisations you know are doing great work, please nominate them, or tell them to nominate themselves. If you represent an org with limited resources and the entry fee is a barrier to nominating, email lynne.preston@sportpositivesummit.com and we'll help 👉 A reminder of the categories here: https://lnkd.in/eYFbnCxN #sportpositive #greensports #sportsforclimateaction #sportsawards #climateaction

🌟 Making a Difference with Laureus Sport for Good Model City Programme in London! 🌟 I'm incredibly proud to be part of the Laureus Sport for Good Model City Programme here in London, where we've teamed up to create positive, long-lasting change in our communities. The Model Cities initiative is all about bringing local stakeholders together and empowering them to tackle the unique challenges facing specific parts of our city. It's a powerful bottom-up approach that actively involves the community in decision-making processes. I've seen firsthand the impact of the three coalitions in Haringey, Barking and Hounslow which comprises individuals from diverse sectors including local authorities, education institutions, youth groups, sports organizations, and community groups. What sets these coalitions apart is their focus on local strategy development, sustainability planning and the mentoring and capacity building of local leaders. These elements are integral to its mission and a key area of the support we at Nicky Affleck Consultancy Ltd have led on. By working closely with diverse sectors including local authorities, education institutions, youth groups, sports organizations, and community groups, we've identified the unique needs of each community and tailored the approach accordingly to develop local strategies. Sustainability planning has been a crucial part of our support. We're not just looking for short-term solutions; we're committed to ensuring that the positive changes we make are sustainable for the long term and these three coalitions are established entities with the ability to continue operating and delivering meaningful work in their local communities. And of course, financial independence planning has been essential for the sustainability of the programmes we are implementing. By helping communities build financial resilience, we're ensuring they can continue to thrive beyond our involvement. The most rewarding of all, would need to be the mentoring of local leaders, where I have seen individuals within the community step up and take ownership of the initiatives, taking on roles in working groups and leadership groups and driving change from within. If you're curious to learn more about our journey and the impact we're making, I encourage you to check out the full case study on our website. https://lnkd.in/e4uy5EvW Thank you Laureus and the three London coalitions for continuing to team up with us! Emily Neilan Barking Sports 4 Change Active Change Haringey Generations Active Hounslow #LaureusSportForGood #ModelCityProgramme #CommunityImpact #ConsultingJourney #LondonStrong #SportforGood #SportforDevelopment 💪🌍

Today marks the first day of the World Athletics Indoor Championships Glasgow 24! To kick off #WICGlasgow24, Climate Executive Coaching is proud to support World Athletics in their sustainability efforts. As a global leader in sports development, World Athletics acknowledges today's pressing environmental challenges, specifically air pollution, climate change, and resource overconsumption, which pose serious threats to our lives, athletes, and sports. Their sustainability strategy drives practices and behaviors within athletics, ensuring they account for future generations' needs, uphold fair and ethical sporting principles, involve stakeholders transparently, and maintain a balanced approach to social, economic, and environmental impact. 🙌 Key components of their strategy include reducing carbon emissions by 10 percent annually, transitioning to 100 percent renewable energy at their headquarters, adopting sustainable procurement and travel policies, and developing best practice guides for member federations and event organizers. 🤝 💡 For this year's championship, the World Athletics Indoor Championship's sustainability efforts align with the Scottish Government's Net-Zero goal by 2045 and Glasgow's Net Zero goal by 2030. Their initiatives promote environmentally friendly living and empower individuals to reduce their carbon footprint. 🌱 🌍 Initiatives like the digital-first approach, litter picking, food waste reduction, and carbon literacy training for volunteers underscore their commitment to sustainability. Leveraging the global reach of sports to educate and advocate for climate action is a powerful tool in addressing this urgent issue. 💚 Good luck to all athletes! 💪 🔗 Click this link to learn more about their sustainability plans and strategies: https://buff.ly/42XOx9a #WhereGallusMeetsGreatness #WICGlasgow24 #Sustainability #Sports #Athletes #NetZero #ClimateAction #CarbonFootprint

It was fantastic to be part of the Sports Environment Alliance Summit '24 'The Future of Sport: Taking action today for tomorrow'. Authentic leaders like Pat Cummins have been the key drivers of climate action in the sport industry via great initiatives like Cricket for Climate, but it was heartening to hear from the organisations in the room who are evolving their business models and raising important awareness. But more needs to be done. A joint 2024 report by FrontRunners Athletes and Environmental Defenders Office found of the 314 major sporting bodies in Australia, only 19 referred to climate change or sustainability in their strategic plans. Tackling climate change needs to be integrated into the business plans, corporate narratives and communications strategies of sporting organisations.   It also needs to be held on the same pedestal as the pursuit of winning championships, medals and accolades. While sport often lives in four-year planning cycles, we need to be playing the long game for the sake of the next generation, and future generations of athletes, administrators and fans. Demonstrating authentic leadership on climate change is not only important for the reputation of sporting organisations, but also an essential step in helping protect the future of sport as we know and love it. Thanks to Jan Fitzgerald and the SEA Summit team for inviting Bastion Reputation along to discuss this important issue. #climatechange #reputation #elitesport #authenticleadership #corporatecommunications #storytelling

❗ Due to a database glitch, we didn't manage to get the Sport Positive Summit 2024 super early bird pricing reminder emails out last week, so have extended the pricing until close of play tomorrow, June 18th (midnight BST) to make sure you don't miss out. #sportpositive #sportpositivesummit #sportpositiveawards #greensports #sportsforclimateaction

🌍 Proud to announce the release of 17 Sport second B-Corp Report! 🎉 At 17 Sport, we believe in the power of sport to drive positive impact, and this year’s B-Corp report reaffirms our commitment to creating a better, more sustainable future for all. In this report, we #highlight: ✅ Our progress and key achievements through the programmatic work we do internally and externally. ✅ The ways we’ve enhanced our positive impact across the sport industry and the challenges we have faced. ✅ Our ongoing goals and roadmap to raise the bar across the business of sport. This milestone wouldn’t have been possible without the dedication of our incredible 17 Sport team, partners, and community. #Together, we are proving that sport can be a powerful force for change. 🚀 Here’s to continuing our journey towards using business as a force for good. Download the full report and join us in driving impact through sport. ➡️ https://lnkd.in/gHP-95Bs B Lab #BCorp #Sustainability #SportForChange #17Sport #Impact

Last week Sports Environment Alliance (SEA) hosted the fifth webinar in its #BeyondtheSummit Webinar Series, with this one focused on 'What does implementing a broader ESG strategy mean for sport?' Attendees heard three of SEA’s members discuss what their approach has been to embedding ESG in their respective organisations. Tanya Gamble, Corporate Social Responsibility Manger at Netball Victoria spoke about Netball Victoria's journey to date, including the focus on ‘boys in netball’ and accessibility to netball. Rita Nehme, Head of Sustainability at Richmond Football Club discussed how Richmond Football Club is integrating sustainable practices, social responsibility and ethical governance across the club, including their carbon targets, their work with SisterWorks Inc. and their commitment to continually delivering a best practice Reconciliation Action Plan. Finally, Adam Luscombe, General Manager at SA Aquatic & Leisure Centre (SAALC) presented a roadmap on integrating ESG across SAALC. This included the environmental wins, and also the important social elements such as work with the homeless and the provision of period products to ensure women and girls always feel able to participate in activities at SAALC. Some key learnings from the webinar included: • Identify partners to work with to achieve greater social and environmental impact with the upcycling, reuse and repurpose of unwanted products (think broadly – this may be a local social enterprise) • Communicate with your audiences to inform them about your plans, collaborate with like-minded partners, empower your members to take action and network for success • Involve the whole organisation; this may include setting up a Green Action team, where you can develop an action plan and set priorities to guide your activities and decision-making • Identify the changes you want to see, set goals and then measure your social and environmental impacts. “Be the change you want to see.” Join us at our next webinar - How to design and implement best practice sustainability into sporting events on Thursday, 17 October, 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm https://lnkd.in/geDJdcF9 #SEA_theChange #noplanetnoplay