On 13 December 2025, governments passed a new resolution at the United Nations Environment Assembly that will work to enhance sustainability across the world of sport, ensuring that sports work to “minimize the environmental impacts and maximize the benefits of sport“.

The new resolution calls on governments to:

  • Enhance sustainable event management, resilient infrastructure, sustainable waste management, and nature-based solutions and/or ecosystem-based approaches in sports.
  • Integrate sustainable development into sports-related national strategies, physical education curricula and community-based sporting programme.
  • Promote partnerships with relevant stakeholders in the fields of environment and sport.

The resolution was tabled by the Government of Kenya, who will co-host the Africa Cup of Nations in 2027, and recognises the long effort by United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and its allies to link sport with environmental action, which includes the work of the Sports for Nature partnership between UNEP, the International Olympic Committee, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and Dona Bertarelli Philanthropy.

“It’s great to see governments agreeing to ensure sport and sustainability work together. We rely on nature for the air we breathe and the landscapes that we train in. I hope here, in the home of long-distance running, we can move further and faster to help deliver for people and planet through sports.”

David Rudisha, Kenya double Olympics champion and former world 800m record holder

Sports for Nature brings together sports associations, federations and clubs, from across the grassroots to the global, to integrate environment into their sustainability commitments, and to link sports to nature conservation action.

The Resolution also asks for resources and momentum to flow to developing countries so they can act on these approaches. UNEP is requested to strengthen partnerships between the environment and sport sectors, such as Sports for Nature, for awareness campaigns, capacity building and accessible guidance materials, and resource mobilisation.

By 2027, UNEP will update its long-term strategy on sport and environment and report progress back to the Assembly.

For those working on Sports for Nature, this resolution and recognition is a welcome sign. It shows that governments see value in this agenda and want to see it grow. It provides for practical, results-based action by sports and athletes. Sports for Nature and its signatories are ready to match the growing ambition that sport can help deliver real gains for people and for the natural world.

Download the Resolution in your language here.

Topics

Nature protection