350 million tonnes. That’s roughly the amount of carbon dioxide equivalent — a combination of various greenhouse gasses — the sports industry produces annually. That’s comparable to Spain’s yearly carbon emissions.

The sports industry’s carbon footprint is real, and with protection now as important as ever, sports can’t be the exception. The good news: The sports industry has demonstrated its commitment to sustainability spanning across multiple sectors.

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The adoption of green building practices, particularly evident in the construction of newer stadiums, is a major win for sustainability.

A notable example is the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which houses the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons and MLS’s Atlanta United FC. This stadium is the first sports venue to be awarded the platinum Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification in the United States. LEED, the worldwide rating system for green building practices, honored the stadium with the highest certification possible.

Sustainability is at the heart of Mercedes-Benz Stadium. It aims to achieve zero waste by keeping 90% of its total waste away from landfills. It has done this by getting rid of unnecessary waste, minimizing on-site waste production and promoting the reuse, repurposing and donation of materials.

Its dedication extends to a 29% reduction in its energy consumption through its use of renewable energy sources — specifically, the 4,000 solar PV panels located around the stadium. To put it into perspective, the stadium can power 160 Atlanta homes, nine soccer matches or 13 football games, with its impressive annual production of 1.6 million kilowatt hours of energy.

The stadium doesn’t stop there. Through its stormwater management and water conservation techniques, it is aiming to reduce its water use by 47%. At the forefront of these efforts is its water-recycling system that provides irrigation for the stadium while simultaneously benefitting its surrounding communities through the stadium’s underground stormwater vault, which helps keep neighborhoods from flooding.   

More sustainable building practices are just the start of a better future and athletes, teams and leagues are all equally contributing. 

Take former MLB players Chris Dickerson and Jack Cassel, for example — they are the founders of Players for the Planet, an organization dedicated to organizing athletes to incite positive environmental change.

Players for the Planet has already worked with more than 200 athletes, each supporting different goals aligned with its mission. Most ambassadors are current and former MLB players, like Evan Longoria and Hunter Greene, who support the elimination of plastic.

Baseball players aren’t the only contributors to the organization, as they partner with athletes across multiple sports. Notable examples include soccer players Lauren Barnes and Katie Johnson, as well as race car driver Leilani Munter, each advocating for different aspects of sustainability — reusing and repurposing, ocean health, and sustainable energy, respectively.

While individual athletes have shown their initiative, sports leagues are doing their part in keeping their teams committed to sustainability. 

The NBA hosts NBA Green as part of its NBA Cares social responsibility program. Through NBA Green, the league hopes to make an impact in three key areas: eco-data collection tracking & impact reductions, environmental & climate justice, and education & awareness.

So far, the NBA has already reduced team flight miles by 50,000, which led to a league-wide greenhouse gas emissions decrease of 39% for its 2022-23 season. By 2023, NBA Green hopes to see a 50% decrease in its carbon footprint, and its initiative is clear.

While stadiums, athletes and teams are actively adopting environmentally friendly practices to enhance what they’ve already built, what truly stands out is a racing series that was built on the idea of sustainability from day one.

As a big fan of motorsports, I love the excitement the sport carries, but I’m less enthusiastic about its significant carbon footprint. Although sustainability strategies, like that of Formula 1, are amazing, they don’t compare to Formula E. 

As the first net-zero carbon sport, Formula E has sustainability written all over it. By following the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, Formula E has implemented strategies like recycling options for damaged car parts, repurposing used batteries and recycling every single tire. 

While these efforts are commendable as we take a step into a more sustainable future, it is crucial to recognize that there is still work to be done. Our past has already made a mark on the planet. We have disrupted ecosystems through venue construction and inadequate waste management, and have emitted far too much greenhouse gasses due to athletes and fans traveling across the globe. These are ongoing issues that demand attention and solutions. 

Greenwashing has become so prevalent and sports aren’t the exception, which is disappointing but not surprising. When the U.N.’s Sports for Climate Action Framework was created, hundreds of sports organizations eagerly participated, quickly marketing their new environmentally friendly commitments. Unfortunately a small number of them actually kept true to their word. 

These are disgraceful actions of key stakeholders, executives and industry leaders. If we want to remain committed to a greener sporting world, they must be held accountable for following through on their environmentally friendly ‘promises.’ 

Regina Correa is a freshman writing about the world of sports, its intersection with culture and the stories that lie within in her column, “The Cultural Playbook,” which runs every other Monday.