Sport pushes boundaries, and transcends them. It unites people from all over the globe around feats of human endurance. Sports take us out into the world, and can bring us together around the common issues that threaten our planet.

Sport has the power to change the world, and our Environmental Sports Champions are doing just that. Even as the Climate Crisis affects conditions on the pitch, in the arena and on the water, they are rallying their followers to take action and make a difference.

Whether paddling for ocean awareness, running to keep rivers clean, swimming to stop animal abuse, mobilising communities to safeguard mountains, or rallying surfing communities against sewage pollution, the efforts of our newest champions span continents and disciplines. We stand with them to protect our planet. We hope you will join us.

Pat Cummins

Cricket for Climate

In the scorching summer of 2018, as Pat Cummins watched players struggle in the record-breaking heat, he realised that the Climate Crisis wasn't just a distant threat – it was altering the game he loved. Just a year later, bushfire smoke made breathing difficult for players on the field. For the Australian Test captain and world-class fast bowler, these experiences ignited a passion to protect both the planet and the game for future generations.

Pat founded the player-led movement Cricket for Climate on the belief that creating practical change starts with each individual and ripples out through cricket communities. By connecting and collaborating with fans, associations, businesses, government, and other sports, Cricket for Climate leads practical solutions for a sustainable future. Its ambitious ‘Net Zero Cricket’ initiative aims to protect cricket ecosystems and transition over 3,700 community cricket clubs and major venues to carbon-negative, water-positive, and zero-waste operations, setting a new standard for sustainability in sports.

Through his on-field excellence and off-field advocacy, Pat Cummins shows how sportspeople can be pivotal in the fight for the environment. Learn more about Cricket for Climate on their website and on Linkedin, and follow the hashtag #cricket4climate on Instagram.

Tilali Scanlan

Olympic Reef Protector

From the tide pools of Vaitogi to the world's biggest sporting stage, Tilali Scanlan's journey is one of passion and perseverance. Born and raised in American Samoa, Tilali developed her love for swimming in the local waters. With the support of her community, her competitive swimming career culminated in Tilali representing her country at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Tilali’s connection to the ocean deepened through studies in Marine Science and Biology at the University of the South Pacific in Fiji. Recognising the interdependence between humans and nature, she became determined to protect the threatened coral reefs of American Samoa. One of seven individuals selected for the prestigious National Coral Reef Management Fellowship Program 2022–2024, Scanlan now works with the Student Conservation Association (SCA) as a coral reef researcher with the National park Service of American Samoa. 

Using her platform as an Olympian, she also advocates for sustainable practices in sports. “As an athlete, these events are surreal and amazing to be a part of. As a marine scientist, it is painful to think of all the carbon emissions from travel and operating costs for these massive events. The feasibility of major events like the Olympics is something we must look at very intently now for the future, and I applaud countries who have done their part to pledge against releasing less fossil fuels into our atmosphere and encourage a better future for our athletes and sports.” Follow Tilali on Instagram for updates.

Katie Rood

On the Front Foot

Professional footballer and passionate environmentalist Katie Rood hails from Aotearoa/New Zealand, where the three strands of sport, nature and culture are ingrained into society. Katie represented her country 15 times, as well as playing club football in Italy with Juventus and in the UK for Bristol City, Lewes FC, Southampton and Heart of Midlothian. Katie uses her platform to bring awareness to the importance of our connection to nature and our responsibility to protect the natural world. In 2023 she spoke at both the Glastonbury Festival and the Athens Women’s Football Summit, and her articles in The Guardian range from her journey with veganism to the conflicted issue of banks investing billions into fossil fuels while also sponsoring women's football. “Even at a professional level,” she wrote, “women’s football does not have the infrastructure to protect players from severe weather events, frozen pitches and extreme heat.” Katie is a core member to the environmental sports organisation Champions for Earth and collaborates closely with Football for Future, where she has been a vocal proponent of eco-friendly practices and policies. Katie hopes to use what she has learnt during seven years as a footballer to inspire individuals to adopt greener lifestyles and support environmental preservation. Follow Katie’s journey on Instagram or X.

Ovie Mughelli

Touchdown for the environment

“If you love sports, you’ve got to love the environment.” In the world of professional football, players are celebrated for their physical prowess and strategic minds. But for Ovie Mughelli, a two-time All-Pro NFL veteran, the mission extends beyond the football field to a challenge that impacts us all: environmental sustainability. 

Ovie showed impressive skill on the field during nine NFL seasons with the Atlanta Falcons and Baltimore Ravens, but his post-NFL accomplishments are truly game-changing.  Named one of the world's top Eco Athletes by the Planet Green Foundation, Mughelli has collaborated with environmental leaders like Ted Turner and Al Gore, and partnered with the Environmental Protection Agency, the Natural Resources Defense Council, and the Sierra Club.

Ovie began to see the connection between human and planetary health after the youngest two of his three children were born prematurely. Recognising that the world needed a shift in our culture of how we connect with, see, and treat our planet, he formed his foundation to empower the next generation through environmental education.

Ovie has been a keynote speaker at the White House's Sports and Sustainability Conference and the Climate Change Awards. Through his commitment to improve the environment and his focused mindset, Ovie Mughelli continues to inspire his followers to achieve remarkable results in any field. Find out more on Ovie’s website.

Jeremy Jones and POW

Safeguarding Snow

Many have noticed changes to ‘typical’ winter snowfall where they live, but when a snowboarding legend points out that something is happening to his beloved powder, people pay attention. Filmmaker, entrepreneur, environmentalist and snowboarding pioneer Jeremy Jones founded Protect our Winters (POW) in 2007 to unite the winter sports community against climate change. His cause quickly grew into a worldwide network of more than 130,000 passionate outdoor people working to “protect the places and lifestyles they love”. Jones, one of the most legendary big mountain riders of all time, was recognised in 2013 as a Champion of Change by President Barack Obama.

POW unites people who believe in doing something about climate change through active decarbonisation. It also recognises that the crisis affects more than sport and pleasure. The POW website says it straight: “Right now, we have the luxury of worrying about how climate change might impact the outdoor industry. Right now, we get to help dictate the outcome rather than react to a foregone conclusion. But if we sit on our hands for the next two decades, we won’t be worried about powder days, tourism or having fun. We’ll be worried about the stability of our environment, our jobs and our economy.” Follow them on Facebook, Instagram, X and Linkedin.

Damian Hall

Racing Towards Green

Record-breaking British ultramarathon runner and former journalist Damian Hall had already made a name for himself through his athletics and commitment to environmental activism when he co-founded The Green Runners to promote sustainability within the running community. The organisation’s ethos is that every runner can make a difference by being conscious about how they travel, what they wear and eat, and their willingness to encourage others to do the same. The Green Runners was nominated for a prestigious BBC Green Sport Award in 2023.

Practising what he preaches, Damian pledged to fly only once a year at most for any running events, boycotts races with high-carbon sponsors, and is an outspoken critic of sportswashing. His award-nominated book, We Can't Run Away From This (Vertebrate Publishing) examines the environmental impact of running and encourages athletes to make similar eco-conscious decisions.

Yvette Tetteh

Swimming against Synthetic Microfibres

Born and raised in Ghana, Yvette Tetteh (who is also one of our River Champions) is a passionate environmentalist and swimmer on a mission to raise awareness about the impact of the textile industry and second-hand clothes trade on waterways. She spent her youth swimming in the Volta River, a lifeline for generations of Ghanaians, and soon began to notice the impacts of human activity on her environment. She joined forces with The Or Foundation to organise the Agbetsi Living Water Expedition for a journey down the Volta river to learn about the impact of synthetic microfibers on river ecosystems and communities. Yvette hopes to shape a more sustainable future to protect Ghana’s natural resources for future generations. In July, Yvette will be joining 11 swimmers from around the world in a circumnavigation of Maui as part of Epic Swim Maui – an expedition to draw attention to global issues and solutions around water and ocean health. Follow along with the expedition on Instagram.

Morten Thorsby

On Pitch for Planet

Morten Thorsby is not your average footballer. Driven by a deep concern for the environment, the defensive midfielder for Genoa and the Norwegian national team believed that a mass movement from a global sport like football could be the catalyst for change. To prove it, Morten founded We Play Green, a non-profit organisation that encourages current and former players to advocate for a more sustainable world. 

Since its establishment in 2020, Morten has been working tirelessly to grow We Play Green. By uniting players, clubs, governing bodies and literally billions of fans, he believes this global football family can create a powerful coalition that influences policy decisions, promotes responsible consumer behaviour, and contributes to achieving the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. The foundation aligns with the SDGs to create a planet where economy, infrastructure, and societal actions are in harmony with the natural world. 

At the same time, Morten continues to use his personal platform as a professional footballer to raise awareness and inspire action. For the 21/22 season, he changed his playing number to ‘2’ to remind the world that we must keep global temperature increases below 2°C. Learn more about We Play Green and follow Morten on his Instagram.

Pedro Rivas

Paddling with Purpose

Armed with a kayak and unwavering determination, Pedro Rivas, a 24-year-old Chilean athlete, has taken on the daunting task of cleaning up the rivers of his hometown, Valdivia. 

Pedro was collecting a lot of garbage on his daily kayak outings, only to return each day to find the situation unchanged. Realising he couldn’t make a significant impact alone, he founded Kayakonsciente: a non-profit dedicated to the conservation of the environment through kayak-based recreational and educational activities. There are currently 25 kayakers, 20 divers, and many volunteers aiding the Kayakonsciente cause. “We have removed tons of garbage from the river and we want to inspire others to continue cleaning these aquatic environments to restore the richness of biodiversity that once existed here,” Pedro says.

Pedro’s commitment to the environment extends beyond his organisation. In a recent personal triumph, he completed the first solo circumnavigation of the binational lake shared between Chile and Argentina, known locally as Chelenko, which in the indigenous Patagonian Aonikenk language means ‘Stormy Waters’. The expedition covered 525 km and took Rivas 23 days to complete with some “beautiful and fateful moments” along the way. Follow and be inspired on Kayakonsciente’s and Pedro’s Instagrams.

Dona Bertarelli

Sails of Change

Dona Bertarelli is not just the fastest woman to sail around the world – she combines her record-breaking sailing achievements with a deep commitment to ocean conservation. She is a Patron of Nature of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), founder and executive chair of Dona Bertarelli Philanthropy, and co-chair of the Bertarelli Foundation. She also co-founded the professional sailing team Sails of Change in 2011, alongside her husband, Yann Guichard. The team's fleet carries the 30x30 message on its sails to call for 30% of our planet to be protected by 2030. 

Building on her belief that sports and nature are intrinsically linked, Dona co-founded the Sports for Nature Framework in a joint initiative of the IUCN, International Olympic Committee (IOC), the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and Dona Bertarelli Philanthropy. The framework aims to deliver transformative nature positive actions across sports for the protection and restoration of biodiversity.

Stay up to date on the work of Dona Bertarelli Philanthropy here and follow Dona on Instagram, on X, or Linkedin.

Surfers Against Sewage

Keeping it Clean

If you want to change the world for the better, start where you are. When a group of UK surfers started getting sick from pollutants at their local surf spots, they fought back. Thirty years on, Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) is an established UK-wide charity of committed water lovers campaigning to protect the ocean and the waterways that lead to it. SAS has led the fight against sewage and plastic pollution in the UK.

They galvanised communities to clean their local beaches, and exposed the UK sewage scandal, calling out the profiteering water industry and those in power who turned a blind-eye to it. Recently, a crew of SAS campaigners travelled the UK in an open-top bus on an Election Road Trip, urging communities across the UK to demand commitments to end sewage pollution from their local parliamentary candidates. Find out more and follow the campaign on the SAS website, or on Instagram, Facebook, Linkedin or X.

Lily Niederhofer

Rising to the Challenge

If you need proof of the power packed into the next generation, look no further than Lily Niederhofer. This 10-year-old competitive swimmer from Portugal is raising awareness for environmental issues close to her heart while setting herself impact challenges. “I have to push myself physically and mentally, but I also want to create buzz and attention for the cause.” In the midst of a project on her favourite animal – Octopuses – Lily discovered plans for a commercial octopus farm on a parking lot on Gran Canaria, one of the Canary Islands. She swung into action, and began training for a two-km open-water swim in the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of the Algarve. She teamed up with the Madrid-based Ocean Born Foundation to create the Octo-Defender Challenge, raising funds for the Compassion in World Farming end.it campaign. Lily successfully completed her swim on May 25, and recruited five more Octo-Defenders. Together they have raised over €11,000 to date. Lily hopes to inspire others to take action in preserving our planet and oceans. “I believe that no matter your age you can have agency and hopefully I can create a movement of young people around the world who want to donate their time and skill to protect what they love.” Follow Lily’s journey on Instagram.

Dee Caffari

Sustainable Sailing

Dee Caffari is the first woman to have sailed single-handed and non-stop around the world in both directions, and the only woman to have sailed non-stop around the world a total of three times.

Dee completed her sixth lap around the planet in the Volvo Ocean Race 2017-18, as skipper of Turn the Tide on Plastic – a mixed, youth-focused team with a strong sustainability message. During that voyage, the team undertook vital scientific research on the presence of micro plastics in the most remote ocean locations on the planet, as part of UNEP’s Clean Seas campaign.

“In over  two decades of professional sailing I have seen worsening ocean pollution, and the impact this is having on wildlife and humans alike.” Dee says. “I use my sailing campaigns to highlight the serious environmental issues our oceans now face and encourage people to act."

In her upcoming campaign, The Famous Project, Dee joins an inspirational all-woman crew sailing around the world to ‘offer women, as well as little girls, the opportunity to dare’. Their trimaran will be equipped with state-of-the-art sensors to collect data on climate change. 

As Chair of the World Sailing Trust, Dee continues to promote sustainability in the sailing community and improve the health of our waters for the generations to come. Find out more on her website, Instagram, Facebook, X and Linkedin.

Iröndäd

Super-hero Effort

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s Iröndäd! A super-motivated mere mortal who is also an ultra-endurance athlete, activist, artist, and father, with several Ironman, Ultraman, and ultramarathons under his belt. But it’s his environmental activism that makes him our superhero.

Each year, Iröndäd (he prefers to keep his alter-identity private) completes a continuous run around the shrinking Salton Sea in Southern California, while tracking its receding shoreline. In 2023, the circumference totalled 96 miles (154 km). One year later, it had already contracted to 92 miles (148 km). Iröndäd does the run to draw attention to the impact of the reallocation of Colorado River water from one of the most impoverished regions in California to more affluent areas.  

During the run, Iröndäd wears a mask – not to protect his identity, but to protect his lungs from the harmful dust rising from the increasingly exposed playa. He also wears snowshoes to stop him from sinking into the vast mudflats that were – until recently – submerged seabed. Find out more on Iröndäd’s website, or on Instagram.

Saad Abid

Gliding into a better Future

“I know it may take ten or 20 years, but my dream is to see a change in mentality in Morocco around conservation,” says Saad in this CNN African Voices video.

After representing Morocco in the World Surfing Games in California (1996) and Portugal (1998), Saad Abid moved to Canada to attend university and discovered snowboarding. His love for the outdoors led to a passion for protection. Back in Morocco in 2010, Saad founded the Bahri Association, a non-profit working for coastal protection and educating future generations. He was behind the launch of the first Moroccan e-bike waste collector, and helped organise Morocco’s biggest beach clean-up operation in Casablanca. 

International exposure inspired Saad to pay it forward. He was part of the Moroccan delegation to COP21 in Paris, and represented Moroccan civil society at the Our Ocean Conference, where he met President Barack Obama. In 2017 he was in the Founders Group of the Climate Action Leadership Network for key decision-makers to deliver immediate actions for the climate, at the 72nd UN General Assembly. Saad was honoured with the IVLP Alumni Decade of Social Innovation & Change award in 2021, and earlier this year won first place in the OceanLove Innovation award for his ‘Chbika’, a tool to capture micro-waste from beaches. Find out more on his website, or follow him on Facebook, Linkedin and Instagram.

Clare Gallagher

Environmental Trailblazer

Clare Gallagher isn’t just running ultramarathons; she’s racing against time to save the planet. As an elite athlete, with victories at Western States 100 and Leadville 100, she has turned her running routes into pathways for environmental change.

Pursuing a PhD in marine conservation, Clare balances her academic work with hands-on environmental efforts. Locally she participates in group runs, trail work and cleanups, prioritising in-person action over digital activism. She's also involved with Running Up For Air events, raising awareness and funds for clean air organisations. Living in Colorado, with bad ground level ozone and wildfires, working towards cleaner air has been a focus for as long as Clare has been running professionally.

As a Patagonia ambassador and Protect Our Winters (POW) athlete, Clare also champions climate action. She has testified on Colorado’s air quality and renewable energy bills, and consistently emphasises voting as a crucial part of environmental advocacy. She also supports Runners For Public Lands, an organisation combining trail work with federal-level environmental policy advocacy.

Through her racing and activism, Clare continues to inspire and educate others about protecting land, water and all living things. Learn more about Clare on her website.

Cal Major

Standing Up for the Ocean

Stand-up paddleboarder Cal Major is an ocean advocate, world-record adventurer and veterinary surgeon, as well as an award winning documentary producer and presenter who uses her SUP adventures to convey important messages about threats to the oceans and their solutions.

Cal was the first person to SUP the 1000 miles from Land's End to John O'Groats. From her home in the Highlands of Scotland, Cal and her partner, James Appleton, make adventurous films about the ocean and its incredible nature and wildlife, and help people experience the magnificent natural and underwater world on their doorstep.

Her charity Seaful aims to connect more people to the ocean through in-person experiences and advocacy. Her latest work, Scotland:Ocean Nation, a 3-part series following her 800-mile SUP expedition around Scotland’s dramatic coast, is now available to stream for free on STV Player. Follow Cal on her website, or on Instagram, Facebook, and Youtube.

Ben Lecomte

The Vortex Swimmer

In a world where most people would rather turn a blind eye to the growing pollution in our ocean, Ben Lecomte dives in headfirst.  The long-distance swimmer set out in 2019 on an unprecedented mission: to swim through the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a swirling vortex of debris located between California and Hawaii.

Covering 330 nautical miles (611 km), he battled through the mass of plastic waste – an area more than six times the size of the UK. By establishing a world record in his 80-day long expedition, Ben not only showcased the dire state of our oceans but also inspired others to make changes in their daily lives, such as shunning single-use plastics and opting for alternative materials. 

Beyond the physical challenge and raising awareness of ocean pollution, Ben's team gathered crucial data to help develop a better understanding of the issue at hand, through  11 scientific research projects assisting numerous institutions in their study of microplastics and how currents shift debris. 

As a marathon swimmer, Guinness World record holder, author, speaker, and entrepreneur, Ben champions the ocean for his children and for future generations. Learn more on Ben’s website and follow him on Instagram.

Jono Ridler

Swimming the Gulf

“I want to make it meaningful. I want to make it bigger than me.” In 2023, 33-year-old Jono Ridler completed the longest unassisted continuous open-water swim in New Zealand's history, crossing nearly 100 kilometres from Karaka Bay, Aotea Great Barrier Island, to Campbells Bay, Auckland, in a gruelling 33-hour odyssey. As if that feat wasn’t enough, Jono’s passion for open-water swimming  became a driving force for marine conservation in New Zealand. 

He partnered with marine conservation charity Live Ocean and dubbed his feat ‘Swim4TheGulf’, aiming to raise awareness about the Hauraki Gulf's declining health and inspire action for its protection. Jono's epic swim captured the nation's attention, and less than six months later, the government announced the introduction of the Hauraki Gulf Marine Protection Bill into parliament, which is now in its final stages. 

Jono continues to use his endurance swimming to drive change and safeguard New Zealand's marine ecosystems. His journey from serious swimmer to influential advocate proves that individuals with passion can make waves in the fight to protect our planet's precious resources, and stands as an inspiration to all who care about the health of our oceans. Watch a short film on his swim here and follow Jono on Instagram for updates.

Mina Guli

Running for Water

Mina Guli is a renowned water advocate and ultra-runner, who has dedicated her life to solving one of the world’s most urgent issues: the global water crisis. Following a successful 15-year career in law, finance and climate change, Mina founded ‘Thirst’, a non-profit focused on changing the way we think about water. Since then, she has run hundreds of marathons to raise awareness and inspire action on water. 

She ran an incredible 200 marathons in one year for water during the first phase of RunBlue in 2022-23. Most recently, Mina ran over 800 km along France's Seine River in 30 days, from its source all the way to where it meets the sea at Le Havre – a world first. Her mission was to draw attention to the considerable efforts being made to clean up the Seine and the need for all cities and countries to restore their rivers to help tackle water, climate and nature crises.

Mina’s run along the Seine was also the prologue to the next phase of the RunBlue campaign – the ‘World River Run’, during which she will run thousands of kilometres in 2025-26 along iconic rivers on six continents to raise awareness of the crisis facing the world's rivers, and to inspire governments, businesses and communities to take action to protect and restore them. Find out more on Mina’s website, Instagram, Facebook and X.

Will Gadd

Climbing for Climate

Canadian mountaineer Will Gadd is on a mission to combat climate change and boost environmental protection. Will uses his exceptional athletic skills to teach and coach everyone from amateur enthusiasts to professional athletes. He also assists scientists to reach remote and challenging locations, from beneath the Greenland Ice Sheet to Baffin Island. He’s collaborated with renowned researchers, like geologist and photographer Dr Jason Gulley and NASA Astrobiologist Dr Lydia Hallis, to gather crucial data and raise awareness about our rapidly changing environment.

As a UNEP Mountain Hero, Gadd uses his expertise to bring compelling stories of climate change to a wider audience, continually pushing the limits of ice climbing, paragliding, and mountaineering, while also operating a full-time guiding service in his beloved Alberta. 

Will’s passion for outdoor pursuits began early, with family adventures that instilled a deep appreciation for nature. In 2015 he made history by becoming the first person to ice climb Niagara Falls. Will is currently preparing for his next project in Alaska, where he aims to showcase the dramatic changes occurring in the frozen permafrost landscape. Stay up to date on his adventures via his website or on his YouTube channel.