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Outdoor and Sports Sector a Climate Solution Powerhouse, Argues New Study

A report, ‘Outdoor and Sports as a Leading Climate Solution Provider’, claims that this fashion segment can move far beyond its small carbon footprint to become a transformative force for climate action, health, and societal well-being. The report is almost a manifesto for a flourishing future, urging a shift from risk and compliance to opportunity and vision.

By

21 May 2025

 6 minutes
Long Story, Cut Short
  • The outdoor and sports sector and other stakeholders that support healthy and sustainable lives, which reconnect people with nature and provide different fulfilling experiences, are part of this new generation of sustainability leaders.
  • While the sector’s direct emissions (approximately 10 million tonnes CO₂e) are relatively modest, its indirect handprint is monumental.
  • While avoiding 100 million tonnes of CO2e is impressive, that number is dwarfed by the potential the outdoor and sports sector has, in collaboration with others such as the health sector, to support flourishing lives that require very few resources.
Instead of only asking companies to reduce emissions from their own activities, it is time to ask how they can help deliver on human needs. We need to ask companies how much they can contribute to avoided emissions by making the world a better place and delivering on human needs.
Shift toward companies being solution providers delivering on human needs Instead of only asking companies to reduce emissions from their own activities, it is time to ask how they can help deliver on human needs. We need to ask companies how much they can contribute to avoided emissions by making the world a better place and delivering on human needs. NEOM / Unsplash

If you lounge in your track pants or gym attire even during the day, you could jolly well be doing something good for the planet, if a new report on the Outdoor and Sports industry is to be believed. With the potential to drive over 2.5 gigatons of avoided CO₂ emissions by 2030, this sector is now being positioned as a key player in shaping a regenerative, flourishing future for all.

The groundbreaking report, ‘Outdoor and Sports as a Leading Climate Solution Provider’, claims that this fashion segment can move far beyond its small carbon footprint to become a transformative force for climate action, health, and societal well-being.

While the global footprint (scope 1-3) of the outdoor and sports sector is very small compared to other sectors (roughly estimated to be about 10 million tonnes), it has the potential to deliver savings on the magnitude of 100 million tonnes CO2 e by 2030, by supporting smarter wardrobes with fewer, high quality and multifunctional garments.

A unique aspect with the measures that enable and support outdoor and sports activities, is that most of these measures require only minor investments. In addition, and even more unique, is that these measures could deliver a significant net economic benefit to society.

The report highlights two primary mechanisms for impact:

  • Smarter wardrobes: Promoting fewer, multifunctional, high-quality garments could reduce emissions by 100 million tonnes CO₂e through systemic shifts in production and consumption.
  • Flourishing lives: Investing in infrastructure and providing incentives for more active, low-carbon, experience-rich lives could avoid up to 2.5 gigatons of emissions, while dramatically improving mental and physical health.

Beyond carbon, the report outlines major economic benefits, including $1 trillion in potential healthcare savings by 2030 from reduced chronic illness and mental health issues linked to physical inactivity. Additionally, it presents a roadmap for policymakers, investors, and city planners to align infrastructure, education, and innovation systems with these benefits.

By delivering low-carbon solutions that also address physical and mental health challenges, this outdoor and sports-driven solution agenda would also deliver three important factors:

  1. Provide a positive vision for society;
  2. Support a shift toward companies being solution providers delivering on human needs;
  3. Acknowledge the need to move beyond current sectors and focus on what is needed to deliver on human needs.
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Young India Fashion Survey 2025

How it can be made to work

For the outdoor and sports sector to deliver solutions on the scale needed, action is needed in four areas:

  1. EXPAND THE CLIMATE AND INNOVATION AGENDA: Companies should shift the focus of their climate work from only reducing scope 1-3 emissions, to instead focusing on how they can support a future where 8-11 billion people can live flourishing lives on a flourishing planet.
  • Cities and countries should invest in solution providers, both start-ups/incubators and sectors, such as the outdoor and sports sector.
  • Cities and regions should establish the outdoor and sports sector as a key innovation driver and climate solution provider.
  • Innovation agencies and incubators should provide funding and set targets for solution providers that deliver on human needs.
  • Investors should support a new generation of clusters and assess their portfolios in relation to what is needed to deliver on human needs in globally sustainable ways.
  • All stakeholders, including national and local governments, investors, business sectors, academics, NGOs, etc should explore how they can create and support clusters that deliver on human needs.
  1. ESTABLISH NEW CLUSTERS AND COLLABORATIONS: There is a need to create clusters that deliver on human needs, with the help of the outdoor and sports sector.
  • Companies should look beyond their sectors and rethink their value chain in relation to the value they provide in society and how they deliver outdoor and sports activities and products, which improve people’s lives in globally sustainable ways.
  • Cities and countries should review their regulations and funding, enabling them to not only strengthen current sectors, but also to support clusters delivering on human needs with outdoor and sports activities and products.
  • Innovation agencies and incubators should move away from sector-based funding and organisations, and instead shift toward a structure that focuses on how to deliver on human needs in the best possible ways, including outdoor and sports activities and products.
  1. SET TARGETS WHICH FOCUS ON BETTER LIVES FOR GLOBAL SUSTAINABILITY: All relevant stakeholders should set targets in relation to how they, directly or indirectly, improve people’s lives, in ways that are globally sustainable.
  • Companies should report on avoided emissions in relation to flourishing lives, or at least smarter wardrobes.
  • Countries should set targets for an expanded climate and innovation agenda in which the outdoor and sports sector is a key solution provider.
  • Cities and regions should move beyond goals and governance based on reducing emissions, to focus on how they can deliver flourishing lives without carbon emissions, and how such solutions can be exported.
  • Investors should move beyond reducing emissions in their portfolio, to focus on how they can finance a transition to a future.
  • Rather than just being told what to do (as often happens with current policies) or being presented with reduced emissions reports, citizens now have the opportunity to see positive goals for the future and understand which policy makers, companies and financial institutions are delivering a better future for them.
  1. LINK HEALTH AND CLIMATE: To accelerate positive development, it is important that policies and initiatives in health and climate areas are linked.
  • Policymakers should ensure that different agencies and initiatives link health and climate action.
  • Companies should set targets that deliver better health, but also avoid emissions in resource efficient ways.
  • Investors should focus on companies that deliver better health and also avoid emissions in society.
The outdoor and sports sector belongs to a new group of companies, with the capacity to significantly reduce emissions in society while simultaneously fostering human wellbeing.
The outdoor and sports sector belongs to a new group of companies, with the capacity to significantly reduce emissions in society while simultaneously fostering human wellbeing. Filip Mroz / Unsplash

Ways forward

Different stakeholders can play different roles for an expanded climate and innovation agenda:

  1. The outdoor and sports sector
  • Set goals for the sectors’ contribution to flourishing lives
  • Initiate collaborations between outdoor companies and other stakeholders
  • Shift to globally sustainable circular business models
  • Align design and production to support smart wardrobes that support flourishing lives
  • Advocate for policy change in support of an expanded climate and innovation agenda
  • Provide guidance for smart sustainable wardrobes
  • Discourage unsustainable outdoor and sports activities
  1. Other sectors/Companies relevant to the outdoor experience emission travel and shopping as entertainment
  • Retailers selling outdoor and sports goods should explore rental services for outdoor equipment, to reduce the need for frequent new purchases, as well as making outdoor and sports activities more accessible
  • Leaders should also explore ways to move their business models to focus on flourishing lives, rather than selling goods
  1. Cities
  • Green infrastructure development in support of outdoor and sports opportunities
  • Transportation infrastructure development
  • Public health initiatives with focus on outdoor and sports
  1. Governments
  • Policy support for resource efficient outdoor and sports activities
  • Sustainability regulations
  • Support for local outdoor and sports experiences
  1. Start-ups
  • Innovative outdoor and sports solutions with new business models should be encouraged
  • Digital solutions for outdoor and sports
  1. Influencers
  • Explore how to promote sustainable outdoor and sports lifestyles
  • Community engagement in under-represented communities
  • Advocacy for policy changes
  1. Investors
  • Investors should focus on companies as solution providers and transition
  • finance accordingly
  • Impact investing in green infrastructure in support for sustainable outdoor and sports experiences
  1. Academia
  • Research on sustainable outdoor and sports practices as a climate solution
  • Study how health is connected with outdoor and sports, in relation to global sustainability
  • Collaboration with new clusters delivering on human needs

The report will be presented at the UNFCC Systemic Innovation Workshop in São Paulo, Brazil on 23 May to ensure a strong momentum towards COP30.

WHAT THEY SAID

Can the outdoor and sports sector lead the way toward a new positive climate agenda? The answer is a resounding yes. This is not about marginal reductions—it’s about unlocking a vision where smart wardrobes, healthier lives, and better systems deliver both massive emissions cuts and a society rich in meaning, creativity and connection. Let’s move the focus from reporting to delivering real solutions that improve people’s lives while reducing emissions in society. Let this be the spark for a movement that uses the power of outdoor and sports to build a world where everyone can live flourishing lives on a flourishing planet.

— Dennis Pamlin (Lead Author)
Senior Advisor / Executive Director
RISE / Flourishing lives 4 All

We must decide if we’re merely avoiding catastrophe or building a future where 8-11 billion people thrive. The outdoor and sports sector connects people to nature, promotes active lifestyles, and inspires low-carbon living. That is a climate solution with systemic reach.

— Massamba Thioye
UNFCCC 
Global Innovation Hub

The outdoor and sports sector has long made positive contributions, but it is time to accelerate and scale those positive impacts exponentially. It’s time to integrate nature-connected lifestyles into policy and planning—from classrooms to city streets. This report is a roadmap for transformation.

— David Ekelund
President / CEO 
European Outdoor Group (EOG) / Icebug

We are facing a global inactivity crisis, with 31% of adults, that's 1.8 billion people, not moving enough to stay healthy. The numbers for young people are even worse, with 81% deemed inactive. Getting people to walk, cycle, or play sports isn’t just good for their health—it also helps the economy, protects the environment, and supports fairness in society. This report shows that being active can help address a broad range of pressing global issues.

— Emma Mason Zwiebler
Chief Executive Officer
World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry

Outdoor and Sports as a Leading Climate Solution Provider’
Outdoor and Sports as a Leading Climate Solution Provider
  • Authored by:

    Lead author: Dennis Pamlin, with valuable input and inspiration from the core group of the Outdoor Climate Innovation Initiative (OCII) that came together after the launch of the Dubai Outdoor Solution Declaration at COP28.

  • 90

  • In alphabetical order based on organisation: Arne/CCC, EOG; David Ekelund, Tom Nilsson and James Varkey, Icebug; Ben Blischke and Afsha Alumia-Khan, Intersport; Tobias Gröber, ISPO; Romain Millet, Sacha Millet and Benedicte Desreux, Millet; Christian Schneidermeier, Ortovox; Marie-Laure Piednoir, Salomon; Jan Lorch and Ralf Geiger, Vaude

 
 
  • Dated posted: 21 May 2025
  • Last modified: 21 May 2025
 
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