Football raises the green flag
Football raises the green flag
Can football score goals outside the stadiums? Can a star like Cristiano Ronaldo or Mohamed Salah inspire millions with his skills, environmental messages, and sustainable behaviors? This is because we live in a time when climate change has become a reality that cannot be ignored; Therefore, sport is no longer just entertainment, but rather a highly influential tool capable of shaping public awareness about environmental and sustainability issues.
From climate change to the loss of biodiversity, air and water pollution, and the consumption of natural resources, sustainability is no longer a slogan we raise, but rather an existential necessity. With this global transformation, sport has emerged as an unconventional and effective tool for spreading the culture of sustainability. Because it is practiced in the open air and is watched by millions, in addition to being a human model rich in the values of cooperation, respect, belonging and justice.
Cristiano Ronaldo, who constantly talks about the importance of maintaining fitness and living a healthy lifestyle, and Mohamed Salah, known for his participation in social and environmental awareness campaigns – have become athletes who use their fame to spread positive values. This impact extends beyond the fans to the policies adopted by clubs, stadium infrastructure, and initiatives that call for reducing emissions and saving energy.
This is because sports have the ability to motivate societies towards adopting environmentally responsible behaviors, in line with the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), whether by adopting sustainable transportation in the transportation of teams and fans, or by implementing awareness campaigns within major tournament events; Therefore, sport contributes to building a more balanced future between humans and nature.
The question here is: How can sports – football in particular – defend the planet? What makes stadiums a victory arena for the battle of sustainability? Therefore, in this article, Earth Guards will address the aspects of the relationship between the sport of football and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), through inspiring stories and real experiences that show how the game turns into a green power… so continue reading the article.
Green Club
In the countryside of England – in the county of Gloucestershire – one of the most inspiring stories between the sport of football and the environment arose, where the “Forest Green Rovers” club, which FIFA considered “the greenest club in the world”; In 2010, this club was only a small English team struggling in the second division, and then it turned into a Carbon Neutrality club, thus being at the forefront of environmental and sports media.
The club’s story did not begin with a sudden decision, but rather it was a long journey of informed decisions. Its stadium was transformed into a space that relies on solar energy, the grass became organic without the use of any chemicals, even the lawn mower became a solar-powered robot, and the traditional player feeding menu was replaced with a plant-based one, not only to reduce emissions, but also to provide a sports environment that embodies the idea of sustainability in all its meanings.
The results were amazing; The club’s carbon footprint has decreased, crowd attendance has increased by 400% since 2010, and the small county – Gloucestershire – has turned into a shrine for both environmental and sports enthusiasts, and the club’s influence does not stop at the borders of the sporting field; It has been extended to schools and local communities through educational programs, such as the environmental club ambassadors who spread the green message among school students and all segments of the local community.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Sustainability
The nameCristiano Ronaldo may not be the first thing that comes to mind when talking about sustainability, but this global sports star has provided all peoples with a pioneering model through his influence on the culture of football fans. During the European Nations Championship 2020 (Euro 2020), when Ronaldo removed a bottle of soda from him in one of the press conferences, he did not comment on this with a political or environmental comment, but rather simply said: “Drink water.” Then, the carbonated water company lost more than $4 billion of its market value in just a few hours. This incident shows that individual intentions may outweigh the impact of entire institutions.
This global mathematical model opens a wide door to a fundamental question: It is: Can influential individuals be effective tools for achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)? The answer is yes; Individual influence – in the age of new media and the influence of social networks – may exceed the influence of all traditional systems in politics and economics. Therefore, cooperation with global icons such as Ronaldo can constitute a strong platform for spreading the concepts of climate justice and achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
Premier League
Away from the limelight and sensational goalsPremier Leagueis quietly working on implementing one of the biggest sustainability strategies in the history of sport; In 2024, he launched a comprehensive plan targeting net-Net Zero Emissions by 2040, based on a practical vision for all aspects of the game of football. From operating stadiums to moving teams and fans.
The plan paid special attention to environmental education and awareness, integrating sustainability concepts into educational programs for young players in academies, and the “Protect the Planet” initiative (in Arabic: Preserve the Planet) distributed educational resources to tens of thousands of schools.
Then the most important achievement was unifying environmental standards within the clubs, by appointing environmental officials in each club – to coordinate green policies, monitor environmental performance, and provide support for sustainable initiatives at the infrastructure and fan levels – and develop clear policies to reduce emissions, and provide funding for green projects in first-class stadiums.
Thanks to these steps, the English Premier League is no longer just a sporting competition, but has become a cultural platform that drives climate change, and proves that football – with its influence and appeal – can be a driving force towards a green future, as football has become a “green game.”
Mohamed Salah: Football is in the service of the planet
The contributions of Egyptian international player Mohamed Salah – the athlete described by the American magazine Time (Time) as one of the most influential figures in the world – are not limited to scoring goals and dazzling fans in European stadiums. It helps promote humanitarian and environmental fields that make it a global symbol of societal commitment. The Egyptian star uses his fame to bring about the positive change required, in order to create a sustainable future.
In 2021, Salah was chosen to be one of the presenters of the “Earthshot Prize”; It is an award whose activities have been covered more than once by Prince William to support pioneering environmental solutions in the areas of protecting nature, purifying the air, reviving the oceans, recycling waste, and combating climate change. Mohamed Salah’s appearance at this global environmental event was a strong message that football is capable of transcending the boundaries of the game, and can be a platform for positive environmental impact.
The spirit of social responsibility was also evident in the steps of the international Egyptian player Mohamed Salah in local initiatives, such as his voluntary participation in the “You are stronger than drugs” campaign, which highlighted the danger of addiction and encouraged young people to make healthy choices for their lives and their future. It was not a hollow awareness campaign or a campaign of resonant words, but rather a humanitarian speech that Salah directed directly to the hearts of millions of Egyptians, using his position in the hearts of the youth. In order to break the cycles of silence and fear.
As for the education level, Mohamed Salah took a huge step when he became the first ambassador for the “Instant Network Schools” initiative, which is run by an English telecommunications company in cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. It is an initiative that aims to connect refugee students and host communities with digital education, and expand their horizons through technology and connection to the outside world. It is planned that these digital schools will enter Egypt for the first time, with the support of Salah, to provide the opportunity for new generations of young people to shape their future with modern tools.
“Earth Guards Shield” for the sustainability of sports clubs
All the previous sustainable trends and steps are taken into consideration by the The Earth Guards Foundation, and it seeks to achieve them on the ground – the good land of Egypt – based on its policies that try to achieve the goals of sustainable development and spread awareness of its issues.
Therefore, the Foundation saw a promising opportunity in the sports scene to enhance development work, as it is working these days to launch an ambitious award under the title “Earth Guards Shield”, and this is in cooperation between it and the Ministry of Youth and Sports; In order to motivate Egyptian clubs to adopt sustainable development concepts and goals, based on a three-dimensional vision, which combines enhancing social responsibility, achieving economic efficiency, and encouraging environmental practices within clubs, such as recycling, energy conservation, and preserving water resources.
Through this award, Earth Guards also seeks to build a real partnership between the sports sector – government – and civil society, a partnership that has been well received by various media outlets, as a qualitative step to redefine the role of sports clubs. A set of accompanying programs are currently being prepared, such as training youth cadres in the field of sustainable development, organizing meetings between youth and decision-makers, in addition to educational activities within youth sports centers.
In conclusion, theThe Earth Guards Foundationwill continue to strive – as usual – towards implementing effective partnerships with various official bodies in Egypt and abroad; In order to make sustainable development and its goals a common concern, and a form of building healthy and sustainable societies in their present and future.
