The study titled, “Outdoor and Sports as a Leading Climate Solution Provider,” is supported by several organisations, including United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry (WFSGI) and the European Outdoor Group (EOG).
The outdoor industry, despite its relatively minor contribution to carbon emissions, has the capacity to prevent more than 2.5 gigatonnes of CO₂ emissions by the year 2030. This positions the sector as an influential agent in fostering a sustainable and prosperous future for society, says the report.
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RISE senior advisor and Flourishing Lives 4 All executive director Dennis Pamlin, who is the lead author of the report said: “Can the outdoor and sports sector lead the way toward a new positive climate agenda? The answer is a resounding yes. This is not about marginal reductions—it’s about unlocking a vision where smart wardrobes, healthier lives, and better systems deliver both massive emissions cuts and a society rich in meaning, creativity and connection.”
Two main impact mechanisms:
· Smarter wardrobes that could lower emissions by 100 million tonnes CO₂e through systemic changes in production and consumption
· Flourishing Lives that could avoid up to 2.5 gigatonnes of emissions while greatly enhancing mental and physical health.
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By GlobalDataUNFCCC Global Innovation Hub project executive Massamba Thioye said: “We must decide if we’re merely avoiding catastrophe or building a future where 8-11 billion people thrive. The outdoor and sports sector connects people to nature, promotes active lifestyles, and inspires low-carbon living. That is a climate solution with systemic reach.”
The report also outlines economic advantages such as $1tn in potential healthcare savings by 2030 due to reduced chronic illnesses and mental health conditions associated with physical inactivity.
It also provides a framework for policymakers, investors, and city planners to synchronise infrastructure, education, and innovation systems with these benefits.
European Outdoor Group (EOG) president and Icebug CEO David Ekelund said: “The outdoor and sports sector has long made positive contributions, but it is time to accelerate and scale those positive impacts exponentially. It’s time to integrate nature-connected lifestyles into policy and planning—from classrooms to city streets. This report is a roadmap for transformation.”
The report urged stakeholders to:
· Broaden their climate and innovation focus to encompass human needs beyond emission reduction.
· Create cross-sector collaborations to link sports with other industries like health and education.
· Set new targets that value quality of life and sustainability over mere carbon metrics; and
· Integrate climate and health policies to maximise social and economic outcomes.
“Let’s move the focus from reporting to delivering real solutions that improve people’s lives while reducing emissions in society. Let this be the spark for a movement that uses the power of outdoor and sports to build a world where everyone can live flourishing lives on a flourishing planet,” Pamlin added.
The findings will be presented at the UNFCC Systemic Innovation Workshop in São Paulo later this week on the 23rd to maintain momentum towards COP30.
The 2025 UN Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP 30) will be held in Belém, Brazil in November.
