PODCAST: How sports is leading sustainability talks

Sports, with their power to unite, are stepping into a leading role in sustainable development.

Last year, Seattle made history with its Climate Pledge Arena being the first arena in the world to achieve Zero Carbon Certification from the ILFI, a global nonprofit that uses strict, data-based standard to determine carbon neutrality. The venue is powered entirely by renewable energy sources, including on-site solar panels. It also incorporates water conservation systems, zero waste initiatives and even boasts a 200-foot living wall and an LED display promoting the significance of a zero-carbon environment.

In a similar vein, Paris took sustainable initiatives to new heights for the upcoming Olympic Games, with plans to construct temporary venues made from recycled and reusable materials, promote renewable energy sources, and prioritize eco-friendly transportation options, aiming to set a new standard for environmentally conscious sporting events.

And the next World Cup – taking place in Canada, Mexico and the U.S. – is encouraging sustainable practices through initiatives like carbon-offset programs for international travel.

But as the sports industry places an emphasis on sustainability, a question remains: Will that commitment to sustainability resonate with sports fans?

"Sports is obviously very visible. It's a recognition that you have a wide stakeholder group when you have a sports organization,” says Rex Hamre, JLL’s head of sustainability for North America. “As sustainability has increased in the public consciousness, we have an opportunity for sports organizations and sports teams to really make sustainability a core part of what they're trying to accomplish."

On this episode of JLL’s Trends & Insights podcast, Hamre joins Scott Jenkins, one of the pioneers in the green building movement for sports. They discuss their experiences, the evolution of sustainability in sports, current best practices, the importance of site selection, retrofitting old stadiums, and the future of reducing carbon emissions and waste.

Sports venues have the potential to be trailblazers, not only swaying other organizations, but also nudging individuals to embrace a more environmentally friendly way of life, Jenkins says.

"Given the immense popularity of sports, nearly everyone turns their attention to it at some point,” he says. "We unquestionably have a significant role to perform."