Professorial Beacon Lecture Series: Professor Mike Weed

Sport is worried about climate change: about the impact climate change will have on sport and how it is played, but what about sport’s impact on the planet?

Sport accounts for almost £500bn of global GDP, about 0.5% of the world’s economy, but what about its contribution to global carbon emissions… is this smaller or greater than might be expected from a sector of sport’s size?

Many sports leaders claim that sport can play a role in combatting climate change, by the environmentally friendly nature of its activities, or by its ability to influence consumer behaviour… but is there any substance to these claims?

Sport cares very deeply about the impact climate change may have on where and how sport is played, but does sport care enough about its own impact on the planet to consider how sport might have to change?

Mike Weed is Professor of Applied Policy Sciences and Senior Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research, Enterprise and Business Development at Canterbury Christ Church University.  He draws draws on a wide range of social science disciplines, including social psychology, economics, geography, sociology and policy sciences, to inform, improve and interrogate policy in the applied domains of sport, major events, urban development, tourism, transport, public health, physical activity, and physical education.  Current research includes policy failings to mitigate concussion in sport, and the impact of sport on climate change.