WOMEN’S FOOTBALL AND CLIMATE CHANGE - THE PLAYERS’ PERSPECTIVE - REPORT
New Report Illuminates Women Footballers’ Concerns on Climate Change and Calls for Industry Leadership
A new report titled "Women’s Football and Climate Change: The Players’ Perspective" sheds light on the concerns of professional female footballers regarding climate change and the responsibility of the football industry to enact positive change. Spearheaded by Planet League Ambassador Amy James-Turner of Tottenham Hotspur Women, the report is a call to action based on insights gathered from interviews and surveys involving players representing 36 different clubs.
Key findings from the report:
High Concern: A significant majority of the players express profound concern about the immediate impacts of climate change on their sport and the world at large, with two-thirds agreeing or strongly agreeing that climate change is affecting football and over 70% saying playing conditions are already affected by climate change.
Industry Responsibility: Players believe that the football industry, given its influential platform, must take a leading role in addressing climate change. There is a strong call for clubs and leagues to intensify efforts towards sustainability and to leverage their cultural impact for greater environmental stewardship.
Player Influence: The report underscores the potential of players as key influencers. Nearly all respondents (96%) agree that they have a significant role in championing climate action, both within their circles and across their vast fan bases.
Educational Needs: There is a critical need for better education on sustainability within the clubs. Players express a desire for more support from their clubs in understanding and communicating about environmental issues effectively, with only 19% saying their club is doing enough to support them.
The report not only highlights concerns but also suggests practical steps that can be taken, including reducing the use of single-use plastics and improving the environmental literacy of players and staff. The surveyed players are adamant that more can be done and should be done soon to mitigate the environmental impact of football.
This report serves as a foundational document for initiating broader discussions on sustainability in sports, particularly focusing on how influential sports figures can mobilise change.
Amy James-Turner said: "In compiling this report, it became evident that my fellow players are not just concerned—they are ready and eager to push for meaningful action. This isn’t about external pressures; this is a call from within the game, from those who live and breathe football."
Chris Boardman, Chair of Sport England, said: “Football has a unique opportunity to help galvanise wider society to tackle climate change, and I urge clubs and governing bodies to step up and show greater leadership. This important report underlines the devastating impact that extreme weather is having on our national game. It is time for football to punch its weight and lead change, safeguarding both the beautiful game and our planet for future generations.”
David Garrido, presenter and sustainability lead at Sky Sports News, said: "I've known Amy for a few years now, and have watched her continue to develop both as a footballer and as a climate advocate. For me, she's the most powerful voice in this space among current players in the UK with an impressive clarity of thought and ambition. This is a really significant piece of work she has completed with Planet League, it's the most compelling indication of what a leader Amy can be and the leading role that women's football could and should have in taking on the climate crisis."
Maheta Molango, CEO of the Professional Footballers Association said: “We’ve seen through the work of the PFA that issues around climate change and sustainability are increasingly of interest to our members. More and more players want to talk about how they respond as individuals, but also how they can use their position to drive change in their clubs and communities. Big issues like this can feel overwhelming, and they need people to stand up and take a lead. Amy’s report is a fantastic example of that and is something that will help more players engage with this conversation, within and beyond the game.”
Donna-Maria Cullen, Executive Director of Tottenham Hotspur said: “Tottenham Hotspur has always recognised the huge role the Club and its players have in the continued fight against climate change. As the Premier League’s greenest club, we are proud to be ahead of the curve in delivering on many of the initiatives players surveyed within the report want to see, including the removal of single-use plastic water bottles and becoming the first in the Premier League to deliver sustainability training for all players. However, we also recognise there is so much more to do – particularly around wider fan engagement on green travel to matches – and we welcome the fantastic work that Amy has undertaken in using her own platform to highlight these key issues.”
Click here to read the full report
Amy James-Turner on BBC World Service's Sportshour show
