FEATURE OF THE YEAR - AWARD WINNERS

PLANET LEAGUE AND AMY JAMES-TURNER WIN BASIS AWARD FOR FEATURE OF THE YEAR

At last week’s British Association for Sustainable Sport Awards Planet League and Amy James-Turner won the best feature of the year award.

Amy’s report "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. The report is a call to action based on insights gathered from interviews and surveys involving players representing 36 different clubs.

The report was shortlisted alongside BBC Sport – Pedal For Paris and Sky Sports – US Open Climate Segment.

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.

Click here to read the full report

Amy James-Turner on BBC World Service's Sportshour show