“As Glasgow welcomes the Commonwealth Games Scotland, I was delighted to host The Scottish Government Climate Change and Sport in Scotland event, bringing together experts from across sport, academia, government and the third sector to explore how we can build a more sustainable future for sport.
“A huge thank you to everyone who contributed to such an insightful afternoon. We opened with remarks from Maree Todd MSP Minister for Mental Wellbeing, Public Health, Sport, Alcohol and Drugs, before hearing from Carolyn Hedley on the growing impacts of climate change on sport, alongside Roger Harding, who shared the challenges and opportunities facing grassroots and community sport.
“Our second session, facilitated by Anne Langley OBE, explored how we can drive climate leadership across the sporting sector. It was fascinating to hear from Colonel Botsang Tschenyego on embedding sustainability across international sporting organisations, Mark Cowan on sportscotland’s work to support climate action, and Dr Graham Russell on the journey towards net zero within sailing and the wider sporting landscape.
“We then looked ahead to the Commonwealth Games 2026, with Selina Donald sharing how sustainability is being embedded into plans for a greener Games and the lasting legacy it hopes to create.
“The discussion then turned to where climate action in sport can have the greatest impact. We heard from Professor Lorraine Whitmarsh MBE on encouraging sustainable travel among sports fans, Dr Robbie Fitzpatrick on helping clubs place sustainability at the heart of their operations, and Clara Walker and Louise Nicol, who highlighted the vital role of Scotland’s Climate Hubs in supporting grassroots and community sport.
“Finally, Dr Jan Breitsohl closed the event with an insightful session on communicating sustainability effectively through social media, maximising positive impact while navigating the challenges of online backlash.
“It was inspiring to see so many organisations coming together with a shared ambition: ensuring that sport not only adapts to a changing climate but also becomes a powerful force for climate action.
“Thank you to everyone who spoke, attended and contributed to such important conversations, particularly Stuart Matheson for organising. Here’s to building a healthier, more resilient and more sustainable future for sport in Scotland.”
