Game Plan for a Warmer World: Assessing the Climate Change Readiness of National-Level Canadian Sport Organizations

Abstract

Climate change is increasingly affecting sports, with warming temperatures and extreme weather events disrupting training and competition schedules, heightening health risks for athletes, coaches, and spectators (e.g., heat-related illnesses), as well as damaging sports infrastructure (e.g., flooded fields). At the same time, many sports and sports tourism are carbon intensive, prompting growing commitments to reduce emissions in line with the Paris Agreement. This study applies a structured content analysis, guided by an adapted climate policy integration (CPI) framework, to assess the climate change readiness of national-level Canadian sport organizations (n=86), including Sport Canada, Multisport Service Organizations (MSOs), and National Sport Organizations (NSOs). The integration of climate or environmental considerations into sport governance is critical for supporting the sector’s transition to low-carbon and climate-resilient operations. However, an analysis of official documents and websites found that the climate responses of national-level Canadian sport organizations are fragmented and insufficient, with 29.1% of organizations referencing climate change or environmental sustainability across any communication platform, 19.8% disclosing mitigation or adaptation initiatives, and only 3.5% showing alignment with international climate policy, such as the UN Sport for Climate Action Framework. It is argued that sport organizations must embed climate objectives into strategic planning, strengthen alignment with national climate policy, and build capacity for implementation. This transition should be supported by federal leadership, access to guidance and sector-specific resources, as well as international climate frameworks and best practices in sport sustainability.