The impacts of climate change are being felt across every aspect of society, and the world of sports is no exception. Rising temperatures, extreme weather events, and environmental degradation are disrupting training schedules, damaging infrastructure, and affecting athletes’ performance. At the same time, the sports sector itself contributes approximately 1% of annual global greenhouse gas emissions. With its broad appeal and influence, sport holds unique potential to lead by example and mobilize collective action for the planet.
“Sport reminds us of our collective ability to overcome the seemingly impossible.” – Patricia Espinosa, former Executive Secretary of UN Climate Change
Recognizing this, the UNFCCC Sports for Climate Action Framework was launched in 2018 to guide environmental sustainability efforts within the sports sector and leverage its global reach to raise awareness and drive climate action. Towards this goal, two e-learning courses have been developed as part of the Sports for Climate Action e-learning series. Created in partnership between UNITAR (through the UN CC:Learn programme) and UN Climate Change (UNFCCC), and powered by adidas, the courses aim to empower individuals and sports organizations to take meaningful climate action – both on and off the field.
The first course, Introduction to Sports for Climate Action (Introducción al Deporte para la Acción Climática, in Spanish), is designed for anyone interested in understanding how sports and climate change intersect. It explores how sports contribute to climate change, how they are affected by it, and what actions can be taken to build a greener and more resilient sports sector. The course is now available in English and Spanish, making it accessible to an even wider global audience.
What will you learn?
At the end of this course, you will be able to:
- Outline ways in which sports both contribute to and are affected by climate change.
- Explain what is at stake and how climate change affects different people and communities.
- Discuss strategies and actions across the sports world that can lead to positive change.
- Identify individual actions that can be taken to make sports greener and more resilient.
Course at a glance
The Introduction to Sports for Climate Action consists of four modules and the final quiz that take approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes to complete. The learning experience is interactive, featuring videos, exercises, and additional resources to help you apply the concepts in practice.
- Module 1: Game Changer – The Role of Sports in Climate Action
- Module 2: Greening the Game – Reducing Sports’ Carbon Footprint
- Module 3: The Climate Playbook – Building up Sports’ Resilience
- Module 4: Playing for the Planet – The Power of Sports
- Final Quiz
Will you get a certificate?
An official certificate of completion is awarded to learners who complete:
- All modules, including videos, interactive lessons, and activities;
- The final quiz with a score of 70% or higher within three attempts.
Once these conditions are met, the certificate will automatically become available for download on the platform in the “certification” tab.