Envision Racing’s development driver, Alice Powell, has joined forces with acclaimed climatologist Ed Hawkins, emphasizing the vital role sports play in altering fan behaviors to combat climate change.
A leading voice in climate science, particularly known for his work with Reading Football Club’s ‘warming stripes’, Professor Ed Hawkins collaborates with Formula E’s Envision Racing. The team will feature these stripes on their race cars, symbolizing the fight against global warming.
Hawkins remarked, “It’s incumbent upon all organizations to take action.”
He noted the insufficient efforts in the sports sector to galvanize fans towards environmental action, stressing sports’ unique ability to unify and inspire change.
Renowned for his ‘warming stripes’ visual, which illustrates the rise in global temperatures since 1850 through 173 color-coded sections, Hawkins was honored with an MBE for his contributions. Reading Football Club notably incorporated these stripes into their kit sleeves, each representing the average temperature for a year since their 1871 inception.
At the COP 28 conference in Abu Dhabi, Hawkins told Sport News Center: “Sports bodies must scrutinize their emission sources and engage fans in their environmental journey, spurring them to make changes.”
Fifa faced criticism for falsely claiming the 2022 World Cup was entirely carbon-neutral. Hawkins, 46, emphasized sports’ vast reach and its potential to engage audiences not typically involved in climate discussions, highlighting the need for collective effort.
Envision Racing, last season’s Formula E champions, will showcase warming stripes on their cars in the upcoming season, tailored to each race location. The team’s involvement in COP events underscores this commitment.
The environmental commitment is seen in athletes forgoing competition opportunities to minimize travel-related environmental impacts. British runner Innes Fitzgerald, 17, is one such athlete making career sacrifices for environmental principles.
Hawkins finds it heartening to see athletes prioritize environmental values over career advancement, hoping this will influence broader societal behavior.
“We need to critically assess our travel decisions for the coming decades to achieve net-zero emissions and prevent further global warming,” Hawkins said.
He warned of the increasing severity of weather events impacting sports, from heatwaves to flooding, already leading to event cancellations in the UK.
Is climate change exacerbating muddy conditions in sports fields?
Recent research indicates that grassroots sports are suffering due to climate-related weather disturbances. While some question the direct impact of climate change on typical seasonal weather, such as autumn storms affecting elite sports, Hawkins argues that the evidence is clear.
“We experienced unprecedented 40-degree heat in the UK last summer, a direct result of climate change,” Hawkins explained. “While we’ve always had hot weather patterns, they’re now intensified due to climate change.”
He also pointed out that warmer atmospheres lead to more intense rainfall, increasing flood risks, as observed across the UK.
In a related development, the all-electric off-road racing series Extreme E announced the formation of a hydrogen working group with Formula 1 and the FIA. This initiative, part of the upcoming Extreme H series, aims to advance hydrogen-powered vehicle technology.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Sports and Climate Change
What is the role of sports in fighting climate change, according to the article?
The article highlights that sports have a significant role in fighting climate change by changing fan habits and promoting environmental awareness. Climatologist Ed Hawkins, in partnership with Envision Racing, emphasizes the need for sports organizations to act on climate issues and engage their fans in sustainable practices.
Who is Ed Hawkins and what is his connection to sports and climate change?
Ed Hawkins is a climatologist who has partnered with Envision Racing, a Formula E team. He is known for his ‘warming stripes’ visual, representing global temperature increases, and has been advocating for sports to play a role in climate change awareness and action. Hawkins has collaborated with sports teams like Reading Football Club to incorporate climate change themes into sports.
What are the ‘warming stripes’ and how are they used in sports?
The ‘warming stripes’ are a visual representation created by Ed Hawkins to depict the rise in global temperatures since 1850. Each stripe in the visual represents the average temperature for a year. This concept has been adopted in sports, notably by Reading Football Club, which featured the stripes on their kit sleeves, and by Envision Racing, which plans to display them on their race cars.
How is Envision Racing contributing to the fight against climate change?
Envision Racing, a Formula E team, is actively involved in promoting climate change awareness. They have collaborated with climatologist Ed Hawkins to feature the ‘warming stripes’ on their race cars. The team also participates in COP events and uses its platform in the racing world to bring attention to environmental issues.
What criticism did FIFA face regarding the 2022 World Cup and climate change?
FIFA faced criticism for falsely claiming that the 2022 World Cup was “fully carbon neutral.” This claim was challenged by environmental experts and highlighted the need for sports organizations to be more transparent and active in their environmental initiatives.
More about Sports and Climate Change
- Envision Racing Official Website
- Ed Hawkins’ Climate Research
- COP 28 Event Information
- FIFA’s Environmental Initiatives
- Formula E Championship Details
- Reading Football Club’s Environmental Efforts
- Extreme E Racing Series
6 comments
Ed Hawkins sounds like he’s doing amazing work with those warming stripes. Didn’t know about this before, really eye-opening stuff!
FIFA claiming the World Cup was carbon neutral? that’s a bit hard to believe.. need to fact-check these claims more, can’t just take their word for it
its inspiring to hear about athletes making sacrifices for the environment. Shows you don’t have to be a scientist to make a difference.
is it just me or does it seem a bit ironic that racing cars – which aren’t exactly eco-friendly – are promoting climate change awareness? just a thought
wow, never thought sports could play such a big role in climate stuff. Really cool to see teams like Envision Racing stepping up, need more of this!
Formula E and Extreme E sound interesting, never watched electric car racing before. Might give it a go, seems like they’re on to something good with the environment.