The workshop was led by Ivana Pranjić, consultant, specialized in sports diplomacy, EU funds, sustainability and protection in sport, as well as advising legal entities in the sports system. Below is a summary of the workshop conclusions.
Major issues such as climate change, economic inequality and social injustice affect people around the world. Climate change is becoming more and more pronounced and affects most countries, causing many natural disasters and damages and leading to disruptions in the economy, but also in the whole society, including sport. Solving problems of this type encompasses a wide range of social, ecological and economic activities, and it is also imperative for the sports community, both for the management of its daily affairs and for responsibility towards young people and future generations.
Twenty representatives of the sports system expressed interest in this issue, participating in the education about climate change, which is also a problem for sport. The topics were - carbon footprint and carbon footprint measurement, a UN initiative together with the International Olympic Committee (UN Sport for Climate Action framework), examples of good practice from Croatia and the world were presented, as well as recommendations on climate change in sport and the contribution of sport to sustainability and climate change.
After the discussions, the participants supported the initiative, expressing hope for greater interest and support in further education, so that as many people as possible become familiar with the impact of climate change in sport. If more people become aware of the gravity of the situation, it will be possible to influence it sooner. Sport is obliged to participate in the sustainable development of our country and thereby actively participate in solving the climate crisis. COC as an umbrella organization can be a good example and provide support for potential future projects related to sustainability.
For example, the Croatian Olympic Committee is a partner in the European Commission's OCEAN project. The European Olympic Committees' Towards Carbon Neutrality (OCEAN) project is designed to empower National Olympic Committees (NOCs) to acquire relevant knowledge for measuring their own carbon footprint and developing tailored carbon dioxide reduction strategies, all in order to reduce their own carbon emissions and strengthen good governance in the field of climate action.
The project is coordinated by the EOC EU Office in Brussels, brings together 21 organizations, including 18 European National Olympic Committees and Öko Institut (scientific institute with expertise in climate action), as well as the International Olympic Committee and the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) as associate partners.
