Join us for a post-Olympics discussion about the impact of climate change on sports.
A recording of the webinar is available below.
Relevant Resources
About this Event
Climate change is threatening sports. Changing conditions are making some environments inhospitable to training and competition, with some sports at risk of disappearing altogether in affected regions. Meanwhile, unpredictable and extreme weather events pose risks to youth, collegiate and elite athlete performance and health, such as heat-related illnesses and air pollution from wildfires. Sports organizations, athletes, and communities will have to adapt to new realities. Tina Muir (Running for Real) moderated a conversation between Madeleine Orr (University of Toronto) and Jessica Murfree (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) exploring the climate risks sports are facing, the health and equity challenges that climate change poses for athletes and communities, and measures that can be taken to protect the future of sports.
Climate Conversations: Pathways to Action is a monthly webinar series from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine that aims to convene high-level, cross-cutting, nonpartisan conversations about issues relevant to policy action on climate change.
Participant Bios
Jessica Murfree is an Assistant Professor of Sport Administration and Hyde Family Foundation Fellow at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. Murfree studies the effects of climate change on sport through societal implications of climate risks and environmental disparities. Her expertise has informed organizations like Climate Week NYC, Climate Central, and Ocean Conservancy. She is a 2023 Forbes 30 Under 30 in Sports Honoree, and she earned Yale University’s School of Public Health Certificate in Climate Change and Health.
Madeleine Orr is the Founder and Industry Lead at The Sport Ecology Group and an Assistant Professor of Sport Ecology at the University of Toronto. Her research focuses on the relationship between sport and the natural environment with special attention to climate change, risk, adaptation, sustainability, and just transitions to more inclusive and sustainable futures. Dr. Orr recently published the book, “Warming Up: How Climate Change Is Changing Sport.” Her industry facing work has included advising work with Formula One, World Athletics, the United Nations Environment Program, the International Olympic Committee, Oceania Football Confederation, World Rugby, adidas, and Nike, among others. Dr. Orr's work has been recognized on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for Sports, the Corporate Knights 30 Under 30 Sustainability Leaders list, and the North American Association for Environmental Educators’ 30 Under 30 list. She was the University of Minnesota’s Rising Alumni Award recipient in 2022, and a Future of Canada Fellow in 2023.
Tina Muir is the Founder and CEO of Running for Real; host of the award-winning podcast of the same name and co-host of Running Realized; a mother of two; and a former elite runner turned sustainability advocate. An ardent environmentalist, she has worked with the United Nations, as well as many races in the running industry, including New York and Chicago marathons on their sustainability initiatives. Through her podcast and social media presence, she starts conversations and shares resources on sustainability, climate change, and how individuals can make a positive difference in their own lives. Her book, "Becoming a Sustainable Runner", co-written with Zoë Rom, merges runners’ passion for their sport with their concern for their health, their community, and the environment.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in the conversation are those of the participants and do not necessarily represent the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
