Sport is one of the most climate-sensitive aspects of Australian life, yet still sits largely outside the national conversation on climate exposure.

Sport attracts around 14 million participants annually in Australia. According to national data from July 2023 to December 2024:

85% of adult Australians (aged 15 ) participated in sport or physical activity at least once in the previous 12 months

11 million (51%) adults took part in a sport-related activity

3 million children (64%) aged 0–14 participated in an organised out-of-school sport-related activity at least once in the previous 12 months

More than 2.8 million adults volunteer in sport.

But as our days get hotter and playing conditions get harsher, an increasingly important question emerges: can Australian sport keep pace with our changing climate and become truly sustainable?

Community members know the story well: scorching grounds, cancelled matches, smoke-affected sessions and volunteers scrambling to interpret new safety protocols.

When heatwaves, smoke, floods or storms hit, training stops and rounds are washed out. The impacts are immediate: reduced physical activity, diminished social connection, and fewer wellbeing benefits.

Clubs are feeling it too. The Australian Sports Foundation reports two-thirds of community clubs are struggling........

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