Through extensive member and industry partner consultations we have identified a knowledge gap on sustainability across sport – a big problem for an international industry valued at more than $500bn facing a global climate emergency. To address this, we have designed a course to help people in sport understand the issues and steer their organisations to a more sustainable footing.
As a course graduate, you will gain an understanding of environmental, social, economic and political contexts for sustainable development, acquiring frameworks for understanding sustainability and introduce key issues and impacts in the context of sport management.
You will be able to identify and define key issues and opportunities in sustainable development and how sport affects, and is affected by, each of these. You will also have a detailed understanding of actions taken by sport organisations that have taken a lead on sustainability.
You will understand measurement, management and reporting. And you will be able to translate all this knowledge for, and apply it directly to, your own organisation.
The Programme
Sustainability For Sports Organisations will comprise two-hour online sessions each week for six weeks, totalling 12 hours of Continuing Professional Development (CPD). Relevant guest speakers will join some sessions.
Timeline and history – a review of key social, political and environmental events in the development of our understanding of sustainability.
Sustainability issues – significant sustainability issues will be introduced and discussed in both a global context and as they relate to the sports sector.
Current impacts – global impacts of the climate, ecological and waste crises, how sport is being affected by changing conditions now, and in the future, and how sport can respond.
Definitions and frameworks – sustainable development defined and put into different contexts including practical, political and scientific frameworks and their relevance to sport.
Leadership and opportunities – how and why sports have embedded leadership into their operations.
Global to local – how responses can be scaled and made relevant at all levels.
Managing and reporting – what solutions are available? What is the role of international standards and reporting schemes in managing sports events?
Greenwashing – Can sports events ever be truly sustainable? How should sport communicate sustainability performance and what happens when impacts outweigh benefits?
The course will run from Wednesday, 7th February from 10am – 12pm for 6 consecutive weeks (12 hours in total).
