from Intention to Action

Dominic Goggins reports on the biggest ever BASIS Sustainable Sport Conference, held at Emirates Old Trafford in April

Sustainability has been growing as a priority in sport for the last decade. In a world grappling with the intensifying impacts of climate change, slowly but surely, clubs, venues, governing bodies and funders have recognised that failing to prioritise sustainability is no longer tenable. This is reflected in the British Association for Sustainable Sport’s (BASIS) membership, which has grown from a handful of clubs and venues at the start of this decade to almost 100 organisations from across the full range of the UK sporting pyramid, including a host of Premier League football clubs and some of the most iconic venues in the world.

Collaboration and practical action

BASIS members gathered at Emirates Old Trafford at the end of April for the association’s annual conference, with more than 220 delegates hearing from 30 speakers and panellists across nine sessions covering the full spectrum of sustainability issues. It was significant for its size – BASIS’s biggest ever conference – and for its atmosphere, with a clear shift from inspiration and intention to action.

Hosted by Today At Wimbledon presenter, Qasa Alom, the conference opened with the promise of support for sport’s sustainability drive from the Minister for Sport, Stuart Andrew. His message was reinforced by Sian Joseph (Deputy Director for Sport at the DCMS) who joined Dame Katherine Grainger (Chair of UK Sport) and Chris Boardman (Chair of Sport England) on the opening panel.

In Grainger and Boardman, conference delegates were able to hear from two sporting giants who are now key players in the funding, direction and success of sport across the country. They offered compelling arguments for mainstreaming sustainable practices throughout the sports sector, with Grainger underlining the importance of the opportunities for collaboration provided by BASIS, and Boardman providing an exclusive preview of Sport England’s new sustainability strategy, which looks set to establish sustainability measures as a condition of future funding.

From policy and politics, the focus shifted to practical action, with panels on transport, biodiversity, carbon reduction, commercial partnerships and sustainable broadcasting. Each session offered unique insight into the planning and delivery of projects that have a measurable impact and wider application. These ranged from Edgbaston Stadium’s work to encourage spectators to use public transport on event days to The R&A’s efforts to protect and enhance natural habitats at the UK’s leading golf courses (including the astonishing 426 different species – 212 of which are protected – found at Royal St Georges, the venue for the 2021 Open Championship).

Filippo Veglio, Head of Environmental Sustainability at UEFA, talked delegates through the carbon calculator developed by European football’s governing body, before joining a panel discussion which delved into the detail of switching to renewables and combatting supply chain emissions alongside representatives from Silverstone, Lord’s Cricket Ground, and the Royal Yachting Association.

Stronger leadership

The conference’s panel of athletes, which included Wycombe Wanderers’ midfielder David Wheeler, former GB rower Melissa Wilson, climate adventurer Kate Strong and Indian triathlete Pragnya Mohan turned the spotlight on UEFA and FIFA, calling for stronger leadership to push sport away from fossil fuel sponsorship. The same theme was developed across a number of panels throughout the day, with contributors acknowledging the challenging position sport is in – as part of a global economy in which fossil fuels have huge influence; as a sector which is both responsible for emissions and acutely exposed to the impacts of climate change; and as a uniquely powerful point of connection and source of inspiration for billions of people.

Wilson was adamant – sport’s position on fossil fuels should be as clear as its position on tobacco advertising. “Fossil fuel companies have huge power in sport,” she said. “They are also largely responsible for the floods, heatwaves, fires and storms which are threatening sport and everybody who plays and watches it. It makes no sense, and it is of great concern to me that there isn’t more of a red line over fossil fuel sponsorship in sport.”

Dr Russell Seymour, BASIS founder and chair, reflected on this in his closing remarks, summarising that BASIS’ position as the fulcrum for shared action on sustainability in sport across the UK means that “we are the right place to bring people together, develop common positions, share best practice and drive sustainability forward” before thanking speakers and delegates for BASIS’s most compelling and action-oriented conference yet.

The focus now switches to the All England Lawn Tennis Club, home of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships, for the BASIS 2024 Sustainable Sport Awards on 26 September. Nominations are open, tickets are on sale, and sponsorship opportunities remain, with all the information available at [www.basis.org.uk/basis-awards.](http://www.basis.org.uk/basis-awards)