“Saving our planet is now a communications challenge” – highlights from the BASIS Sustainable Sport Conference

David Attenborough’s celebrated quote – “Saving our planet is now a communications challenge” – set the tone for this year’s BASIS Sustainable Sport Conference (11–12 June). which took place at Stamford Bridge, home of Chelsea FC. Over two days of inspirational speakers, insightful panels, and dynamic breakout sessions, one theme emerged repeatedly: sport’s vital role as a cultural leader in the fight against climate change, writes Mary-Claire Gill.

A recurring question in the industry is why it’s so difficult to find the Marcus Rashford of climate action – an inspiring, globally recognised figure willing to speak out, influence others, and spark a ripple effect through popular culture.

David Wheeler, PFA sustainability champion, spoke eloquently about the need for more inclusive environments within football dressing rooms – spaces where players feel safe to express their views and use their media profiles to raise climate awareness without risking future coaching, sponsorship, or media opportunities due to accusations of hypocrisy.

This raises an important question: are broadcasters and production teams looking in the wrong place by focusing on individual athletes? Perhaps the priority should be encouraging clubs and federations to develop authentic sustainability initiatives that teams can support collectively. As Wheeler noted, “being asked is often all it takes to do the right thing.” Maybe we’re simply not asking the right people clearly or directly enough.

Innovation and energy use

Energy use remains a top priority, and the panel session ‘Using Innovation to Support Climate Action’ explored emerging solutions.

While batteries and electrification often dominate the conversation, it was refreshing to hear Julia Wall-Clarke from Extreme H and Maria Grandinetti-Milton from the European Tour Group discuss their use of green hydrogen at global, often off-grid events.

Extreme H: A racing series with sustainability at its core

Wall-Clarke emphasised the importance of collaborating with supply chains to uncover innovation opportunities and highlighted hydrogen’s scalability compared to battery storage. Although current costs are higher, investors in Extreme H– such as Nico Rosberg – are taking a long-term view, positioning green hydrogen as a core strategy for achieving net zero.

Jennifer Babington, operations director and general counsel at Formula E team Envision Racing , shared how Formula E showcases both technology and performance. Envision uses sustainably sourced minerals for its batteries, which are reused and recycled at end-of-life.

With circularity and supply chain sustainability top of mind for many tech manufacturers, sport is proving it can lead by example. Babington also underscored the growing challenge of electronic waste and Envision’s commitment to raising awareness and collaborating on solutions.

Sustainable Broadcasting and Production

In the ‘Sustainable Broadcasting and Production Requirements’ breakout session, Deborah Creaven, production executive, BBC Sport and Jo Finon, manager of responsible production at Sky Sports, shared their organisations’ ambitious sustainability strategies. They explored how federations, clubs, and venues can collaborate to reduce the environmental impact of productions.

Finon revealed that 84% of a typical Sky production’s carbon footprint comes from travel, with 7% from energy. To address travel, the BBC tested a new approach, asking their athletics production team to send 20% fewer crew, and to send 20% by train to Budapest in 2023. Interestingly, the overall footprint didn’t drop significantly due to increased overnight stays, highlighting the complexity of sustainable logistics.

Paris 2024 pushed boundaries further, with 90% of personnel traveling by train, and some even cycling. For the Euros 2024, the inclusion of public transport in accreditation packages helped reduce travel emissions. This is a model other federations might consider during early negotiations with host cities.

Remote production is also becoming standard. Sky now produces many presentation elements at HQ, cutting travel by 50% and reducing on-site power needs, making grid energy access more feasible.

Broadcasters like the BBC and Sky are eager to work more closely with federations and venues to minimise the impact of outside broadcasts. BAFTA Albert, the UK screen industry’s sustainability body, has published a Venue Requirement checklist to support these conversations. It covers key areas such as compound facilities, power, cabling, catering, welfare, transport, and data sharing.

Funding and policy support

Chris Boardman, chair of Sport England, announced a new £45 million partnership with BASIS to help Sport England members improve their sustainability practices. By March 2027, members must meet key sustainability criteria to remain eligible for funding. This initiative addresses the funding and expertise gaps that have hindered progress and sets a clear timeline for change.

The role of communication

Day two opened with Kerry McCarthy, UK Minister for Climate, in conversation with BASIS’s Dom Goggins. She emphasised that the government’s growth strategy depends on a successful green transition. While policy can set the framework, she acknowledged that behaviour change is difficult, and that sport’s trusted messengers can reach communities that politicians often can’t.

Sport’s influence is undeniable. From “planet placement” content to energy-efficient technologies, sport can normalise sustainable behaviours and inspire action.

Chris Boardman returned to this theme in his keynote, urging the industry to “talk to the household.” Terms like climate change, global warming, biodiversity loss, and net zero can feel abstract and disconnected from daily life. Instead, we should focus on relatable messages: clean air in our neighbourhoods, pollution affecting our loved ones, enjoying nature, and raising healthy, active children who can play grassroots sport.

The BASIS conference made it clear: sport has the platform, the influence, and increasingly the tools to lead on climate action. The challenge now is to communicate, collaborate, and commit – on and off the field. Within sports production, let’s use our voice well.

As Boardman put it, “Sport, with its emotional connection, can lead. We have a global voice.”