Advancing sport ecology research on sport and the natural environment

Abstract

Sport and the natural environment have an intimate relationship threatened by global warming and climate change. Individual sport organizations and events to the collective global sport sector must address climate change on two primary fronts–(1) reducing their impact on the natural environment resulting in climate change to sustain the environments individual sport organizations and events taking place and (2) sustaining sport from changing environments due to climate change. This paper examines previous research from these two fronts, and gaps are identified that can inform future research to advance our understanding of environmental sport management or sport ecology topics. The paper then discusses practical and measured responses to climate change using examples from other disciplines beyond sport management to enhance these research lines and inform industry practice. As the sport sector advances, a fourth wave of the sport environmental movement is emerging where sport organizations encounter internal and external pressures to resolve contradictions in their stated environmental values and organizational operations (e.g. short-haul flights, carbon-intensive sponsors). The paper concludes with recommendations across these two fronts to engage fans and participants in meaningful climate action with demonstrative results.