For the good of the game: AFL fans back action on climate change

Australian sport has dealt with its fair share of heatwaves, droughts, and floods, and climate change is only going to make these more frequent and intense. With this coming summer likely to have more cyclone activity than average, Australian sport may see more flooding rains and extreme wind.

Most Australians are concerned about climate change, and AFL fans are no different.

A recent survey of 567 AFLM and AFLW fans conducted by Monash University, in partnership with AFL Players for Climate Action (AFLP4CA), found that a majority of fans are worried about climate change, with 76% indicating they are “somewhat” to “extremely” worried.

Many AFL fans feel climate change will impact how the game is played, both professionally and at the grassroots level, and 83% also indicate that the sport has already begun to feel the impacts of climate change such as through extreme heat, flooding, heavy storms, and drought.

Fans are in support of clubs acting to reduce their carbon emissions, and about two-thirds of fans believe the AFL has a responsibility to help clubs do this.

Additionally, 41% of fans were prepared to support clubs taking climate action even if it meant a slight increase in membership fees, with another 22% of fans unsure.

There were very few fans who disagreed that AFL clubs have a responsibility to reduce their carbon footprints (only 14%), while more than half of the fans indicated they would be excited if their club was the first to go carbon-neutral.

Backing for players to speak out

About three in five fans are in favour of AFL players talking about how climate action can safeguard the game for future generations, with a further one in five neither agreeing nor disagreeing with this. Indeed, two in five fans felt that AFL players have a responsibility to talk about climate change.

Some players agree, and are stepping up to encourage stronger climate action across the sport and in the wider community.

More than three-quarters of AFL fans are in favour of clubs installing renewable energy at their facilities, and about four out of five fans are in favour of clubs improving waste management.

The newly formed AFLP4CA is co-founded by Tom Campbell and Jasper Pittard. Campbell is with the North Melbourne Football Club and previously played for the Western Bulldogs, while Pittard has played for North Melbourne and Port Adelaide.

AFLP4CA represents more than 260 AFL players who are serious about tackling climate change. In the wake of the Black Summer bushfires, players around the country started talking in locker rooms and hubs about what they could do to tackle the challenges facing us all.

Out of those conversations AFL Players for Climate Action was born.

“AFL Players for Climate Action helps players find solutions to reduce their emissions, use our platforms to share our experiences of climate change, and builds support for greater climate action from clubs and fans,” says AFLP4CA co-founder Campbell.

Playing a role by going solar

Clubs have strong potential to contribute towards action on climate change. For example, if all AFL clubs and arenas installed solar panels, the potential energy offered over a 20-year period would be roughly enough to power 2025 households.

More than three-quarters of AFL fans are in favour of clubs installing renewable energy at their facilities, and about four out of five fans are in favour of clubs improving waste management.

Read more: IPCC report: A grim scientific assessment of how and why the planet is warming

AFLP4CA’s new #footy4climate initiative, in partnership with Go Neutral, aims to help players offset carbon emissions from their travel with 100% Australian carbon credits sourced from projects that remove and store carbon by regenerating native Australian bushland.

Players and fans getting behind climate action is an example of what can be achieved together, and we hope our collective actions and those around the world will allow us to enjoy AFL for many generations to come.