Cool Down
@cooldownnetwork.bsky.social
The world is heating up, Cool Down - the sport for climate action network, works to cool it down. We share here what our members do. See http://cooldownclimate.org
Get involved in a fan campaign with Fossil Free Football 👉 form.typeform.com/to/D0xI9I9g
Read the full piece on Cool Down. 👇
Read the full piece on Cool Down. 👇
While fans fight fires, UEFA fuels the flames — Cool Down
Playing football outside in the warmer months has been part of European life for generations; but fan climate campaign group Fossil Free Football are concerned that recent trends in extreme weather ...
www.cooldownclimate.org
November 25, 2025 at 11:18 AM
Get involved in a fan campaign with Fossil Free Football 👉 form.typeform.com/to/D0xI9I9g
Read the full piece on Cool Down. 👇
Read the full piece on Cool Down. 👇
The Champions League is just the smallest and most visible tip of the football pyramid.
But without its grassroots base, elite football's future is unstable - and promoting pollution is one of the quickest ways to erode the beautiful game's foundations.
But without its grassroots base, elite football's future is unstable - and promoting pollution is one of the quickest ways to erode the beautiful game's foundations.
The beautiful game? Football is responsible for as much CO2 as Austria
The most popular sport in the world is coming under scrutiny for rising emissions and lack of climate action.
www.euronews.com
November 25, 2025 at 11:18 AM
The Champions League is just the smallest and most visible tip of the football pyramid.
But without its grassroots base, elite football's future is unstable - and promoting pollution is one of the quickest ways to erode the beautiful game's foundations.
But without its grassroots base, elite football's future is unstable - and promoting pollution is one of the quickest ways to erode the beautiful game's foundations.
And beyond promoting polluters, UEFA has expanded the Champions League match calendar by 38%.
Research suggests that the extra fixtures will add 𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗳 𝗮 𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 air miles from fan and player travel.
Research suggests that the extra fixtures will add 𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗳 𝗮 𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 air miles from fan and player travel.
What could more European football mean for planet?
BBC Sport looks at what having more teams, more games and more flights in men's European club football could mean for the climate crisis.
www.bbc.com
November 25, 2025 at 11:18 AM
And beyond promoting polluters, UEFA has expanded the Champions League match calendar by 38%.
Research suggests that the extra fixtures will add 𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗳 𝗮 𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 air miles from fan and player travel.
Research suggests that the extra fixtures will add 𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗳 𝗮 𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 air miles from fan and player travel.
Meanwhile, UEFA is itself sponsored by Qatar Airways - one of the world's largest airlines.
In our own research with SGR, we found that this deal alone will result in additional emissions equivalent to a coal fired power plant running for an entire year. 🏭
In our own research with SGR, we found that this deal alone will result in additional emissions equivalent to a coal fired power plant running for an entire year. 🏭
Playing with the Planet: the climate cost of UEFA’s growth plan
This report analyses both the growth in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions caused by the recent expansion of European club football competitions and induced emissions from high-carbon sponsorship deals. T...
www.sgr.org.uk
November 25, 2025 at 11:18 AM
Meanwhile, UEFA is itself sponsored by Qatar Airways - one of the world's largest airlines.
In our own research with SGR, we found that this deal alone will result in additional emissions equivalent to a coal fired power plant running for an entire year. 🏭
In our own research with SGR, we found that this deal alone will result in additional emissions equivalent to a coal fired power plant running for an entire year. 🏭
But while football fans were busy fighting fires, Europe's elite clubs and UEFA decision makers were fuelling them.
Of the 18 highest seeded teams at this year's Champions League, six have a highly polluting shirt sponsor tied to a major oil and gas exporter. ⚽️💨
Of the 18 highest seeded teams at this year's Champions League, six have a highly polluting shirt sponsor tied to a major oil and gas exporter. ⚽️💨
November 25, 2025 at 11:18 AM
But while football fans were busy fighting fires, Europe's elite clubs and UEFA decision makers were fuelling them.
Of the 18 highest seeded teams at this year's Champions League, six have a highly polluting shirt sponsor tied to a major oil and gas exporter. ⚽️💨
Of the 18 highest seeded teams at this year's Champions League, six have a highly polluting shirt sponsor tied to a major oil and gas exporter. ⚽️💨
Fossil Free Football spoke with fans and players taking inspiring action in response to extreme weather this Summer.
In Greece and Cyprus, fans joined firefighting efforts and organised collections of donations and first aid supplies for displaced families.
In Greece and Cyprus, fans joined firefighting efforts and organised collections of donations and first aid supplies for displaced families.
November 25, 2025 at 11:18 AM
Fossil Free Football spoke with fans and players taking inspiring action in response to extreme weather this Summer.
In Greece and Cyprus, fans joined firefighting efforts and organised collections of donations and first aid supplies for displaced families.
In Greece and Cyprus, fans joined firefighting efforts and organised collections of donations and first aid supplies for displaced families.
This summer, unprecedented wildfires spread across Europe, losing an area roughly six times the size of London.
Studies suggest climate breakdown made fires 40 times more likely in Spain and Portugal, and 10 times more likely in Greece and Turkey.
Studies suggest climate breakdown made fires 40 times more likely in Spain and Portugal, and 10 times more likely in Greece and Turkey.
Europe’s summer of extreme weather caused €43bn of short-term losses, analysis finds
Greatest damage from heat, drought and flooding done in Cyprus, Greece, Malta and Bulgaria
www.theguardian.com
November 25, 2025 at 11:18 AM
This summer, unprecedented wildfires spread across Europe, losing an area roughly six times the size of London.
Studies suggest climate breakdown made fires 40 times more likely in Spain and Portugal, and 10 times more likely in Greece and Turkey.
Studies suggest climate breakdown made fires 40 times more likely in Spain and Portugal, and 10 times more likely in Greece and Turkey.
"Initiatives like the Fossil Free Declaration matter because they give athletes a collective voice. Speaking out alone can be daunting, but when athletes unite, it builds a sense of solidarity and strength."
✍️ Join the declaration as a concerned fan. 👇 5/5
✍️ Join the declaration as a concerned fan. 👇 5/5
The Fossil Free Declaration — Cool Down
Launched by the Cool Down - Sport For Climate Action Network, the Declaration is a pledge for sports organisations, athletes, and fans to demonstrate climate leadership by rejecting sponsorships and c...
www.cooldownclimate.org
November 13, 2025 at 12:35 PM
"Initiatives like the Fossil Free Declaration matter because they give athletes a collective voice. Speaking out alone can be daunting, but when athletes unite, it builds a sense of solidarity and strength."
✍️ Join the declaration as a concerned fan. 👇 5/5
✍️ Join the declaration as a concerned fan. 👇 5/5
Why is sport such a powerful platform for change?
"Athletes are role models for the next generation. Sport has the platform and reach to change our hearts and minds, and show us what's possible for a better future." 4/5
"Athletes are role models for the next generation. Sport has the platform and reach to change our hearts and minds, and show us what's possible for a better future." 4/5
SPORTING CHANGE: Do we need a ‘Marcus Rashford’ for the climate? — Cool Down
As a growing number of elite athletes use their platforms to call for more ambitious climate action and lifestyle changes, it is crucial to understand the impacts that athlete leadership could have - ...
www.cooldownclimate.org
November 13, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Why is sport such a powerful platform for change?
"Athletes are role models for the next generation. Sport has the platform and reach to change our hearts and minds, and show us what's possible for a better future." 4/5
"Athletes are role models for the next generation. Sport has the platform and reach to change our hearts and minds, and show us what's possible for a better future." 4/5
But extreme weather doesn't impact sport equally.
Grassroots sport, Barr points out, is far more vulnerable due to its limited resources.
Th UK research on the impact on grassroots sport.ess to local sport.
👇 UK research. 3/5
Grassroots sport, Barr points out, is far more vulnerable due to its limited resources.
Th UK research on the impact on grassroots sport.ess to local sport.
👇 UK research. 3/5
Climate in sport: Sport England says grassroots clubs can change country
Grassroots clubs have the power to address the on-going issue of extreme weather, according to Sport England.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 13, 2025 at 12:35 PM
But extreme weather doesn't impact sport equally.
Grassroots sport, Barr points out, is far more vulnerable due to its limited resources.
Th UK research on the impact on grassroots sport.ess to local sport.
👇 UK research. 3/5
Grassroots sport, Barr points out, is far more vulnerable due to its limited resources.
Th UK research on the impact on grassroots sport.ess to local sport.
👇 UK research. 3/5
“In 2019/20, during the Black Summer Bushfires, I remember training under an orange sky - you could smell the smoke as we warmed up.”
Australia is on the frontlines of the climate crisis, meaning extreme heat is already impacting sport in the country. 2/5
Australia is on the frontlines of the climate crisis, meaning extreme heat is already impacting sport in the country. 2/5
Australia’s bushfires 'made 30% more likely by climate change' |
Study explores role of human induced climate change in the 2019–2020 South-Eastern Australian bushfire season.
www.ox.ac.uk
November 13, 2025 at 12:35 PM
“In 2019/20, during the Black Summer Bushfires, I remember training under an orange sky - you could smell the smoke as we warmed up.”
Australia is on the frontlines of the climate crisis, meaning extreme heat is already impacting sport in the country. 2/5
Australia is on the frontlines of the climate crisis, meaning extreme heat is already impacting sport in the country. 2/5