University of Auckland sociologist Dr Chris McMillan says Aotearoa’s big sports organisations are not winning any races when it comes to climate action.

“We like to regard ourselves as punching above our weight in the sporting arena, but when it comes to environmental sustainability from sports organisations in Aotearoa, we’re barely off the starting blocks ,” says McMillan, who teaches social science and works with the University’s Centre for Climate, Biodiversity and Society - Ngā Ara Whetū.

Of the 278 signatories to the United Nations Sport for Climate Action Framework, which commits sports organisations to halving their greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and achieving net zero by 2040, only two are from New Zealand – the Black Foils Sail GP team and University and Tertiary Sport New Zealand, he says.

“Few New Zealand sporting organisations have developed a formal environmental sustainability plan,” says McMillan.

Sport New Zealand has produced reports which talk about climate change being a major threat to the future of sport in this country. However, it has yet to set out a comprehensive strategy for the sector, he says.

The lack of action to improve sustainability comes despite climate change having a significant impact on sports in New Zealand, says McMillan.

Games are frequently disrupted or postponed due to cyclones, heavy rain or extreme heat. Many clubs are facing higher costs to maintain facilities in the face of floods and droughts.

“Sport is one of those ways in which we meet climate change most directly, like when you want to go skiing, but there's no snow.

“People often talk about climate deadlock, where we can acknowledge that climate change is getting worse, we can see the effects coming, yet we continue as if we don't. And that's what's happening with sport at the moment.”

Most sports organisations have focused on adapting to the climate crisis, by changing the timing of games, having more breaks, or building more climate-resilient facilities, rather taking action to minimise their impact, says McMillan.

“Obviously, we need to adapt to the changing climate, but if climate change continues to get worse, then we'll be forever adapting. Yet we seem to be in denial of the need to make transformative changes.”