How Women’s Football Is Promoting Climate Advocacy

As the world grapples with the escalating climate crisis, unexpected alliances are emerging to champion sustainability. Women’s football, a sport synonymous with resilience and progress, is becoming a surprising but impactful force in this global fight. With its rapid growth, values-driven community and increasing visibility, the game is uniquely positioned to drive meaningful conversations and action at the convergence of sport and climate change.

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At first glance, climate change may seem unrelated to women’s football. However, as the game continues to grow in popularity, players speak out, and fans pay attention, the connection between this pressing global issue and the sport is becoming increasingly clear.

Sponsorship has been fundamental for the women’s game’s development, driving the investment needed to elevate it to unprecedented heights. Unlike men’s football, where the market is already saturated, women’s football offers brands and investors high visibility, making it an attractive and impactful space to engage with.

The women’s football community – players and fans alike – embodies progressiveness, empowerment, and forward-thinking values. This tight-knit community has fought tirelessly to advance their game while challenging entrenched inequalities such as sexism and homophobia. Sustainability is now emerging as another critical cause within women’s football, driven by recent sponsorship deals that have ignited crucial conversations about the sport’s environmental impact.

As the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 approaches this summer, it sets a powerful example of how major football events can minimize their environmental footprint. This pivotal moment invites us to delve deeper into the intersection of women’s football and the climate crisis, exploring how the game can continue to champion change on and off the pitch.

Players’ Insights

Women’s football players are amplifying the climate crisis conversation by sharing candid first-hand experiences and highlighting areas that urgently require change.

A report published in May 2024 by Planet League provides insights on what female players believe needs to be done about the climate crisis in the women’s game.

The insights were drawn from interviews with players and managers, as well as a survey of 113 women professionals from 36 clubs conducted in January 2024.

The findings reveal that 65% of the players agreed or strongly agreed that climate change is affecting football both on and off the pitch, and over 70% said they have experienced changes in playing conditions during their careers. They highlighted warmer temperatures and increasingly unpredictable weather patterns, which disrupt both training and matchday routines.

Athletes resting in the shade before a race. Photo: AdamKR.

One recurring concern highlighted by the players is the widespread use of plastic within football. The convenience of single-use plastics is deeply ingrained in their routines, yet many clubs lack even basic recycling options regardless of how easy they would be to implement. Eliminating single-use plastics emerged as a clear priority for many of the players.

Another topic of significant debate is fossil fuel sponsorship in football. While players acknowledge the importance of financial support, there is a strong consensus that it must not come at the cost of the planet’s future.

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Problematic Sponsorship

In October 2024, over 100 professional female footballers signed an open letter urging FIFA to terminate its four-year sponsorship deal with Saudi Arabian oil giant Aramco. The deal grants the 98.5% state-owned company sponsorship rights for upcoming football tournaments, including the 2026 Men’s World Cup and the 2027 Women’s World Cup.

In the letter, the signatories condemned the partnership, stating that future generations of female players deserved far better from FIFA than an “allyship with this nightmare sponsor.”

“We urge FIFA to reconsider this partnership and replace Saudi Aramco with sponsors whose values align with gender equality, human rights, and the safe future of our planet,” the letter read. “A corporation that bears glaring responsibility for the climate crisis, owned by a state that criminalizes LGBTQ+ individuals and systematically oppresses women, has no place sponsoring our beautiful game.”

This is not the first time FIFA has faced backlash for controversial sponsorship decisions. Last year, plans to make Visit Saudi – a state tourism authority – a lead sponsor of the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand drew widespread criticism. Additionally, FIFA’s history of awarding the 2022 Men’s World Cup to Qatar and the 2034 Men’s World Cup to Saudi Arabia underscores its ongoing alignment with questionable partners.

Women’s football is at a pivotal moment, grappling with decisions that will shape its future identity and values. Deals like the Aramco sponsorship challenge the progressive ethos of the women’s game, forcing stakeholders to ask what kind of game they want to champion.

UEFA 2025 Women’s Euro

The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has not yet released a specific projected carbon footprint for the 2025 Women’s Euro. However, the organization has outlined an ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) strategy for the tournament, emphasizing a commitment to minimizing its environmental impact.

This year’s event in Switzerland builds on the sustainability measures introduced during the 2024 Men’s Euro in Germany, which achieved a 21% reduction in carbon emissions compared to its initial forecast. While the initial projection was approximately 490,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent, the actual emissions totaled around 387,100 tonnes.

To deliver a sustainable tournament, UEFA is collaborating closely with the Swiss Football Association and the Swiss government. The environmental strategy identifies three core areas of action: climate action, sustainable infrastructure, and a circular economy.

One standout initiative is smart mobility. The 2025 Women’s Euro organisers will offer free public transport for ticket holders, aiming to reduce spectators’ carbon impact. Match schedules are also designed to minimize team travel during the group stage.

Renewable energy is another key focus, with stadiums and venues set to use electricity from renewable sources. Other measures include reducing water consumption through grey water systems, limiting packaging, using environmentally friendly cups and offering vegan and vegetarian food options. Recycling points will also be provided to encourage waste reduction.

UEFA is committed to promoting a circular economy by applying the 4Rs principle: reduce, reuse, recycle and recover. These efforts aim to create a tournament that aligns with modern sustainability goals, setting a strong precedent for future sporting events.

In March 2024, UEFA launched the Carbon Footprint Calculator, an online tool designed to help football organizations assess and manage their carbon emissions. This initiative is an essential component of UEFA’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2040, with an interim goal of a 50% reduction by 2030.

More on the topic: How Climate Change Is Affecting Professional Sports Worldwide

Fans’ Insights

In January 2025, She’s A Baller, the UK’s largest independent women’s football platform, conducted first-party research involving over 1,600 women’s football fans. The study revealed that 87% of the respondents believe it is either very important or somewhat important for women’s football to be environmentally sustainable.

The findings also showed that 88% of the respondents actively engage in eco-friendly practices such as recycling, buying locally or using public transport. Among these, 21% consider themselves fully eco-friendly, while 67% say they do their best to adopt eco-conscious habits.

The research highlighted a strong appreciation for female players advocating climate action, with 93% of the respondents strongly agreeing or agreeing with this sentiment. When asked about UEFA’s 2025 Women’s Euro climate strategy, 46% stated they were aware of it or had encountered information about it.

Dutch fans cheer during the Netherlands vs. Denmark football match at Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, on June 14, 2010. Photo: Flickr.

These key insights underline the inspiring commitment of women’s football fans to driving positive change within the game and beyond. Their eco-conscious behaviour, environmental awareness and support for players championing climate action showcase their determination to make a meaningful impact.

Future Outlook

UEFA’s motivation and commitment to sustainability are encouraging, with their climate strategy setting an example for other football federations and organizations to follow. However, a more unified effort is needed across the football industry to prioritize sustainability. This is particularly true for major tournaments, which are often criticized for their negative environmental impact.

The upcoming World Cups, marked by questionable sponsorships and a lack of concrete climate strategies, make it hard to feel entirely reassured about the sport’s direction.

Women’s football fans are eco-conscious, and players are deeply motivated by environmental causes. With the community embracing a strong commitment to sustainability, the question arises: will the 2025 Women’s Euro generate fewer carbon emissions than the 2024 Men’s Euro, when adjusted for scale and attendance?

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