On June 26 in London, sector leaders, sports councils, local authorities, delivery partners and private sector organisations will convene for the Why Sports ‘Green Goals’ Conference. Ahead of the conference, ConnectSport’s Kate Dening spoke to keynote speaker Denise Ludlam, Environmental Sustainability Strategic Lead at Sport England (pictured right).
Hi Denise, thanks for speaking to ConnectSport. We’re looking forward to hearing from you at the Why Sports ‘Green Goals’ Conference, but first a few questions from us.
Please could you introduce yourself and provide a brief overview of Sport England’s environmental sustainability strategy ‘Every Move’?
I'm Denise Ludlam, the Environmental Sustainability Strategic Lead at Sport England, a role I’ve held for two years since it was first created. My role reflects Sport England’s recognition that sustainability is essential to the future of sport and physical activity, particularly at the grassroots and community level. While great work was already happening, we needed a more strategic, sector-wide approach. We consulted the sector and found that 82% view sustainability as important, but many face barriers like limited funding and a lack of trusted guidance. Within sport, I think the main focus in the past has been on recycling. We still have loads of organisations saying 'We’re great at recycling, so we’re all right, we are doing it, we’re sorted'. And actually, sustainability’s about so much more. Our strategy, Every Move, responds to this by focusing on how climate change impacts participation, especially in underserved communities, making sustainability fundamental not just for the environment, but for social equity, health and the long-term wellbeing of the nation.
You’ve mentioned before that cultural attitudes are evolving in a positive direction. Can you elaborate on where and how you have seen this change most significantly?
My background is in environmental sustainability rather than the sporting sector and, when I first joined Sport England, the conversations around sustainability were limited – people spoke mainly about recycling or 'doing their bit', without fully recognising the fundamental role sustainability plays in building a more equal, participative and socially-connected society. However, I have seen a significant cultural shift in recent years. The language and awareness within the sector have evolved noticeably; now, when I speak with people, there is a clear understanding that sustainability is not just a positive choice but a vital necessity for achieving our long-term goals. People are increasingly focused on making purchases more sustainable, using renewable energy, being inclusive, and reusing sports equipment to help more people get involved. This shift in language reflects a broader change in mindset, and for me, that cultural progression is essential. As people adopt new ways of thinking and speaking about sustainability, it signals a deeper, more systemic transformation in how the sector approaches its environmental responsibilities.
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According to the Active Lives Survey, climate change is impacting activity levels in communities that are already under-represented in sport and physical activity. Why and how is it exacerbating these inequalities, and what actions is Sport England directly taking to redress this imbalance?
Sport England recognises that climate change is increasingly disrupting participation in sport and physical activity, particularly among communities that are already under-represented. While there is still much to learn, data from the Active Lives Survey and our Activity Check-In indicate that extreme weather events are a key barrier. At a basic level, if a football pitch is flooded, the game simply cannot go ahead – but the impact goes beyond cancelled sessions. Repeated flooding, which is now more frequent due to changing weather patterns, can damage pitches and facilities, making them unusable for weeks or even months. This disrupts routines, and when people stop participating for extended periods of time, they may not return. Underserved communities are particularly vulnerable, as they are often situated in more flood-prone areas or urban 'heat islands' (where high temperatures are exacerbated by a lack of green space). We saw in the heatwave in July 2022 that vulnerable groups were told to stay inside. It is a given that it can be more difficult for older adults and for those with different health conditions to get active in very warm weather, but we must adapt. If we provide adapted opportunities in shaded spaces, these individuals wouldn’t be missing out on the benefits of physical activity. We also need to consider more practical barriers like not having appropriate kit for changing weather. While Sport England is already identifying and addressing some of these challenges, there is a clear need to build our knowledge on how climate impacts intersect with social and demographic inequalities. This will help inform targeted action that ensures all communities can continue to access the benefits of sport and physical activity.
Can you outline how some of these issues are impacting communities even more widely, for example in terms of public health, community cohesion and the economy?
Extreme weather events linked to climate change are having far-reaching effects on communities, extending well beyond interruptions to sport and physical activity. When areas are flooded, for example, the damage can force local businesses to close for extended periods, which disrupts economic stability and people’s livelihoods. Washed-out roads and damaged infrastructure can take months to repair, leaving lasting impacts. While there may be moments of increased social solidarity during crises, these events can also lead to greater isolation, especially for vulnerable individuals. Economically affected residents may not prioritise or lose access to regular physical activity, which in turn negatively affects both short and long-term health outcomes. This decline in physical activity has a knock-on effect on community cohesion and the overall vitality of a population. These challenges show that the consequences of climate change cannot be viewed in isolation; they are interconnected across public health, social wellbeing and local economies. As such, addressing them requires a well-rounded approach that strengthens the ability of communities to adapt in the face of environmental pressures.
The Green Goals Conference will bring together a wide variety of stakeholders from across civil society, sport and even the private sector. Why is it important that, at a local level, there is a collective and collaborative response to climate change?
A collaborative, local-level response to climate change is essential because the issue is inherently multifaceted – intertwining health, the economy, social connectedness and the environment. No single organisation can address all these dimensions in isolation. By bringing together stakeholders from civil society, sport and the private sector at the local level, we create the opportunity to tackle interconnected challenges in a more holistic and co-ordinated way. This collective approach enables solutions that are more impactful and far-reaching than those developed independently. Local collaboration ensures that both top-down strategies and grassroots action come together, making the response more effective because of its inclusive and relevant approach to the specific needs of communities. Ultimately, it’s a straightforward but powerful idea: we can achieve much more when we work together.
