Why Sports and Sustainability Are Inseparable in 2026

In 2026, the global sports industry stands at a crucial point. Environmental sustainability is now a central consideration of sports leagues, federations, and events. From carbon-neutral commitments to renewable energy usage and waste management, sports organisations are now including sustainability into their core strategies.

This transformation is driven by a mix of regulatory measures, stakeholder expectations, and the existential threats posed by climate change itself. Rising temperatures and extreme weather are no longer distant forecasts — they already shape training schedules, infrastructure resilience plans and fan engagement strategies. 

In response, the sports world is innovating rapidly, turning arenas, federations, and major events into platforms for climate action and environmental stewardship.

In this article, we examine five standout sustainability initiatives reshaping sport today and why, in 2026, sports and sustainability have become inseparable.

1. Paris 2024 Olympics

The sustainability strategy behind the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games became a template for global events, and its impacts continue to resonate in 2026. The Paris Olympics aimed to become the first carbon-neutral Games by sourcing 100% of its electricity from renewable sources.

Paris 2024 was designed under the Olympic Agenda 2020 framework to integrate sustainability in every phase, from planning to operation. The Games emphasised carbon reduction, resource efficiency and social legacy, aligning event governance with broader climate goals.

Organisers prioritised minimising new construction, using temporary or existing venues where possible, and placing long-term benefits for communities at the forefront. Spectator mobility plans focused on public and active transport to reduce emissions, while supply chain criteria favoured sustainable procurement.

While exact carbon footprint numbers for Paris 2024 vary by report, the strategic approach — oriented around mitigation and legacy impact — has set a global benchmark for sustainable mega-events. These design principles now inform planning for the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics and future Games.

2. UN Sports for Climate Action Framework

At the heart of sport’s environmental pivot is the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework. It is an initiative under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) that unites organisations across sports disciplines to align with global climate goals.

Signatories pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2040, with annual progress reporting to ensure transparency.

This framework now underpins sustainability efforts across major leagues and federations. It provides a common language for measuring impact and a pathway to credible climate performance — a shift from ad-hoc goodwill initiatives to measurable, science-aligned action.

3. World Athletics

World Athletics, the global governing body for track and field, is leading a data-driven approach to sustainability. 

In 2025, the organisation published its first annual sustainability report assessing hundreds of events against the Athletics for a Better World (ABW) Standard — a structured evaluation framework covering environmental, social and economic impact.

The report found that nearly half of the assessed athletics events achieved recognised sustainability performance levels, ranging from platinum to bronze, demonstrating measurable progress against targets in areas such as carbon management, air quality, and local community benefits.

World Athletics has committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2030, with the ABW Standard serving as both a compliance tool and a roadmap for continuous improvement.

What sets this strategy apart is its emphasis on quantified performance outcomes, not just aspirational goals. 

4. NBA Green

In North America, the National Basketball Association (NBA) has mainstreamed sustainable practices across its venues and operations through NBA Green and the Arena Sustainability Task Force.

One of the key achievements of NBA Green includes the participation by all NBA arenas in the Arena Sustainability Task Force, sharing data and best practices to reduce environmental impact. Several arenas achieved LEED certification, which reflects high performance in energy efficiency, water conservation, and waste reduction.
Furthermore, NBA Green has led to renewable energy powering league flagship events (including 100 percent renewable energy for the 2024–25 NBA Global Games and All-Star Weekend).

The NBA has also redesigned travel schedules to reduce unnecessary team flights and worked on waste diversion strategies during major events — solidifying sustainability as a business imperative rather than a side project.

5. UEFA Euro 2024

The UEFA European Championship 2024 (Euro 2024) demonstrated how sustainability can be integrated into a major continental tournament. Official sustainability reporting highlights multiple measurable effects.

For one, it has led to reductions in estimated carbon emissions through transportation planning and public transit incentives, while also implementing circular economy practices in waste management and product lifecycle.

One of the results is the establishment of a €7 million Climate Fund to support renewable energy projects and local sustainability actions among amateur clubs and regional associations.

Further, the Euro also involved full use of renewable electricity at the 10 host stadiums and engagement with sustainable transport providers.

Why 2026 Marks a Turning Point

By 2026, sustainability in sport is no longer optional or peripheral. Several forces have converged. Institutional integration, with the help of Frameworks like the UN Sports for Climate Action, compels organisations to commit publicly and quantitatively to climate targets.

Increasing records, such as Measurable benchmarks, have set reporting standards from bodies like World Athletics and UEFA ensure that commitments translate into verified outcomes.

Legacy-oriented planning is also driving sustainable sports in 2026. Events like Paris 2024 have shown that sustainability strategies can strengthen, not weaken, the appeal and social relevance of sport.

In addition, multinational policy frameworks and national mandates — such as Sport England’s sustainability strategy tied to climate goals — are elevating environmental action across grassroots and elite sport alike.

Sustainable Sports in India: IPL

Cricket dominates India’s sports ecosystem, and the Indian Premier League (IPL) ranks among the most-watched sporting leagues globally. In recent years, the tournament has also emerged as a platform for sustainability action. IPL 2025 reflects a growing effort to integrate environmental responsibility through renewable energy adoption, waste management, and fan engagement initiatives.

A prominent league-wide initiative is the Green Dot Balls campaign. First introduced during the IPL 2023 playoffs by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in collaboration with the Tata Group, the initiative was expanded across the entire 2025 season. Under the programme, every dot ball bowled in any match contributes to tree-planting efforts, significantly increasing the campaign’s scale and visibility.

Team-Led Sustainability Initiatives

Alongside central initiatives, several franchises have launched team-specific sustainability programmes, often in partnership with renewable energy companies such as Vikram Solar and Rayzon Solar. These efforts combine environmental action with social impact and fan participation.

Rajasthan Royals: Cricket with Rural Electrification

Rajasthan Royals (RR) have developed one of the most socially integrated sustainability initiatives in the IPL. Through their social impact arm, the Royal Rajasthan Foundation (RRF), the franchise launched the Pink Promise initiative.

Under this programme, RR committed to solar-electrifying six rural homes in Rajasthan for every six hit during their designated Pink Promise match. The initiative was implemented in partnership with Luminous Power Technologies and Bindi International. A key component involved training rural women as solar engineers, enabling communities to operate and maintain the systems independently. By 2025, hundreds of homes in the Sambhar block had been solar-electrified.

RR also runs the Green Yodha campaign with Schneider Electric as Official Sustainability Partner, encouraging fans to take individual climate-positive actions.

Kolkata Knight Riders: Renewable Advocacy and Waste Reduction

For the 2025 season, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) partnered with Vikram Solar to promote renewable energy adoption by leveraging the team’s extensive fan base.

KKR also implemented a structured waste management programme during their home matches at Eden Gardens. During the IPL 2025 season, the initiative resulted in the recycling of 27,194 kilograms of waste, composting of 4,885 kilograms, upcycling of 2,826 kilograms of materials, including team flags, and the donation of 207 kilograms of surplus food.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Awareness to Circular Sportswear

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) were among the earliest IPL teams to link cricket with environmental awareness through their Green Game initiative, launched in 2011. In recent seasons, this initiative has evolved from symbolic messaging to material innovation.

In partnership with PUMA, RCB’s green jerseys now use RE:FIBRE technology, incorporating recycled polyester derived from textile and plastic waste.

Chennai Super Kings: Renewable Energy and Research Partnerships

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) partnered with Rayzon Solar for IPL 2025 to advance renewable energy integration. Key measures included solar-powered stadium operations and the use of electric and hybrid vehicles for team travel. The franchise has also introduced jerseys and fan merchandise made from recycled and biodegradable materials.

In addition, CSK collaborated with IIT Madras to explore technological solutions for reducing the environmental footprint of match days at the M A Chidambaram Stadium, with a focus on waste management and water conservation, including rainwater harvesting.

Gujarat Titans: Zero Waste Strategy at Scale

Operating from the Narendra Modi Stadium, the world’s largest cricket stadium, Gujarat Titans (GT) face both scale-driven challenges and opportunities in sustainability. The franchise partnered with NEPRA Resource Management Pvt. Ltd. to implement a Zero Waste to Landfill strategy.

Across the 2024 and 2025 seasons, this initiative enabled the collection and processing of over 90,000 kilograms of waste, demonstrating the feasibility of large-scale circular waste management within sports infrastructure.