The International Olympic Committee (IOC) recently revealed the recipients of the inaugural Climate Action Awards, highlighting the commendable efforts of athletes, International Federations (IFs), and National Olympic Committees (NOCs) in confronting the climate crisis. Athletes Ben Blankenship (athletics, USA), Marcus Mepstead (fencing, Great Britain), and Paloma Schmidt (sailing, Peru), along with World Rugby, World Sailing, the Colombian Olympic Committee, and the Spanish Olympic Committee were among the honorees, selected from over 70 applications, across three award categories: sustainable travel, innovation, and athlete advocacy.

The awards, supported by key Olympic and Paralympic Partners Airbnb, Deloitte, and P&G, aim to acknowledge significant initiatives within the Olympic Movement to mitigate the environmental impact of sports, inspiring others to follow suit. The Climate Action x Sustainable Travel Award, sponsored by Airbnb, recognized Marcus Mepstead, World Sailing, and the Spanish Olympic Committee for their impactful efforts to promote sustainable travel within the sports calendar. The Climate Action x Innovation Award, supported by Deloitte, celebrated Peruvian sailor Paloma Schmidt, World Rugby, and the Colombian Olympic Committee for their innovative solutions driving climate action. The Climate Action x Athlete Advocacy Award, backed by P&G, honored US middle-distance athlete Ben Blankenship for his commendable work in promoting sustainability through the Endless Mileage Project.

Launched in November 2022, the IOC Climate Action Awards underscore the crucial role that sports can play in combatting the climate crisis. The IOC remains committed to its goals of reducing emissions, pledging to decrease direct and indirect emissions by 30% by 2024 and 50% by 2030, aligned with the Paris Agreement. The IOC is also contributing to climate action through initiatives like the Olympic Forest, as part of the Great Green Wall, striving to restore degraded landscapes in Africa’s Sahel region. Moreover, the IOC is implementing more stringent requirements for future Olympic Games, focusing on minimizing carbon emissions and striving to offset the emissions generated by the Games.

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Photo Courtesy International Olympic Committee

Courtesy International Olympic Committee