Top 8 Ways Cricket Fans Can Be More Sustainable
With an estimated 2.5 billion fans, cricket is the second most popular sport in the world. It’s also one of the sports that is most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. With such a huge, passionate fanbase, cricket fans have the potential to make an enormous impact and can lead the way on climate action. Whether you're watching from the stands or enjoying a match at home, there are plenty of ways to reduce your environmental impact and encourage others to act on climate change. Here are the top 8 ways cricket fans can be more sustainable:
1. Choose Sustainable Transport
One of the most significant ways to reduce your carbon footprint is by choosing eco-friendly transport options. If you're heading to the ground, consider cycling or walking if you live nearby, opt for public transport over driving, and if you do go by car, lift-share with friends. For those travelling longer distances, try to select trains over flights.
2. Call Out Sportswashing in cricket
Cricket is awash with fossil fuel money and is lagging behind other sectors that have begun distancing themselves from such problematic associations. UN Secretary General, António Guterres, recently called for a global ban on fossil fuel advertising, criticising the giant corporations the “godfathers of climate chaos”. Cricket fans can add their voices to the increasingly urgent calls for our sport to stop participating in fossil fuel sportswashing. Contact cricket organisations directly, and contact your MP if you want the government to act on fossil fuel advertising. Otherwise, collective silence means nothing will change.
Lords cricket ground has a sponsorship deal with J.P. Morgan, the world's biggest financier of fossil fuel expansion
3. Check Your Pension Isn’t Investing in Fossil Fuels
Without you realising it, your pension contributions could be funding new fossil fuel expansion. It’s estimated that in the UK alone, pension funds have over £88bn invested in fossil fuel companies. However, many pension schemes offer sustainable, responsible, or ethical options, so it’s worth spending a small amount of time to check. Your pensions won’t be much good for you if climate change continues to wreak havoc on our planet!
4. Bring Reusable Items to the Game
Stadiums often generate a significant amount of waste, much of it from single-use items like plastic cups and packaging. Bring a reusable water bottle, cup, and even utensils if you’re planning to eat at the venue. Most grounds offer refill stations for water, making it easier to avoid single-use plastics.
The much-loved beer snake has become something of a tradition at cricket matches, but they sure require a lot of plastic!
5. Know Your Stuff - Educate Yourself, Friends and Family
According to the Hit for Six report from The British Association for Sustainable Sport, cricket is one of the sports most vulnerable to the effects of climate change, but many cricket fans are unaware of this. The sustainable sports sector is growing rapidly and there are plenty of resources out there. The Next Test are on a mission to educate and empower cricket lovers to take action on climate and preserve the game we love. Check out our other blog posts and our resources page for more information on cricket, climate change and sustainability. Don’t forget to talk to friends, teammates and family and help to spread the word. Many small ripples can turn into a giant wave!
6. Choose Planet Friendly Food Options
Did you know that food production is responsible for approximately one quarter of all greenhouse gas emissions? This is largely due to animal agriculture, which generates as much emissions as all cars, trucks and automobiles combined! Many of us enjoy a tasty snack while watching the cricket, and most grounds have plenty of delicious options available to the climate conscious cricket fan. The more often we choose planet friendly plant based foods, the more we can reduce our impact on the environment. Don’t forget, chips are vegan!
Plant based food can be naughty (and delicious) too!
7. Engage in Environmental Advocacy
Use your voice to advocate for sustainability within the sport. Engage with your favorite teams on social media, applauding their current efforts and asking them to adopt more eco-friendly practices. You can also join or support organisations (such as The Next Test and Cricket for Climate) that are working to make cricket more sustainable, helping to amplify the message. It can be as simple as chatting to fellow fans at the match.
8. Participate in Community Events
Many cricket clubs organise community events, such as festivals, family days, kids camps, community outreach, ground clean-ups and sustainability conferences (Including our upcoming Greener Games event with Gloucestershire CCC!). Participating in these events is a great way to get involved with your local cricket community and provides opportunities to connect with like-minded fans who are passionate about the environment while spreading the message.
Sign The Next Test Pledge to demonstrate your support, become part of the solution, and to lead the way in cricket, climate action and sustainability.
