Chelsea’s Jessie Fleming, Inter Milan’s Sofie Junge Pedersen, and Roma’s Elena Linari are among 44 players who are taking responsibility for the environmental impact of their flights to the Women’s World Cup by donating money to climate campaigns. This initiative, supported by Common Goal and Football for Future, aims to mitigate the negative impacts caused by traveling to Australia and New Zealand. The hope is that this campaign will encourage governing bodies to prioritize carbon emissions in the bidding process for tournaments.
The environmental impact of players’ flights for the World Cup will be calculated, and the players will then donate the money to a combination of climate resilience, carbon offsetting, and adaptation initiatives. Sofie Junge Pedersen, a Denmark international who created the initiative, expressed her desire to ensure her World Cup experience has a positive environmental legacy. She believes that climate change is the biggest issue humanity faces and wants to be part of the solution.
While there are currently no sustainable solutions to aviation, these players are setting an example and taking a tangible step in the right direction. Football For Future, an organization that aims to build an environmentally sustainable culture in football, supports this initiative. The organization’s founder, Elliot Arthur-Worsop, called for governing bodies to take action regarding football’s impact on climate change.
Arthur-Worsop stated that there is currently no sustainable solution for the environmental cost of air travel. He believes that governing bodies need to acknowledge the impact that their tournaments have on the natural world and introduce carbon considerations as key criteria in the bidding process for hosting future tournaments. He highlighted that the 2026 men’s World Cup is predicted to be the most carbon-intensive event in the history of football, with travel representing 85% of total emissions. This trajectory is not compatible with a healthy planet for future generations or the future of football.
Fleming, who will represent Canada at the upcoming World Cup, hopes that this initiative will inspire other athletes to engage in discourse about climate change. She feels passionate about this topic and believes that the action taken by her teammates and herself will accelerate the climate conversation and set a precedent for what athletes can do to push for more environmental policies in football.
The issue of climate change is becoming increasingly urgent, with floods, fires, and extreme weather events becoming more frequent and severe. It is crucial for all industries, including sports, to take responsibility for their environmental impact and work towards sustainable solutions. Football, as one of the most popular sports in the world, has the power to influence millions of people and drive positive change.
The Women’s World Cup is a significant event that attracts global attention and brings together talented athletes from different countries. By addressing the environmental impact of their flights, these players are not only setting an example for other athletes but also sending a message to governing bodies and fans around the world. They are showing that it is possible to prioritize the health of our planet while still enjoying and participating in the sports we love.
It is now up to governing bodies, such as FIFA, to take action and incorporate carbon considerations into the bidding process for future tournaments. The 2030 World Cup host selection is a perfect opportunity for FIFA to make a meaningful statement and demonstrate its commitment to addressing climate change.
In conclusion, the initiative taken by players like Jessie Fleming, Sofie Junge Pedersen, and Elena Linari to donate money to climate campaigns in order to mitigate the environmental impact of their flights to the Women’s World Cup is commendable. It sets an example for other athletes and calls on governing bodies to prioritize carbon emissions in the bidding process for tournaments. Football has the potential to be a powerful force for positive change, and it is crucial that all stakeholders in the sport take responsibility for their environmental impact.