Last year, more than 300 British Olympians and Paralympians put their signature to a letter addressed to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, urging him to steer the country towards a ‘green recovery’ amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

The letter was coordinated by Champions for Earth, a group of current and former sportspeople determined to make the athlete voice a key driver in the acceleration of the low-carbon transition.

Melissa Wilson, one of the guests in this episode, is part of the core Champions for Earth team, coordinating much of its effort to engage and educate athletes to understand and communicate about climate change and other environmental issues.

Joining Wilson is Morten Thorsby, a professional footballer for U.C. Sampdoria in Italy and the Norwegian national team. Thorsby is on the cusp of launching We Play Green – an organisation that encourages football players and other sportspeople to engage in climate action.

During this episode, Wilson and Thorsby document their journeys, discuss their respective organisations, and explain how athletes can talk authentically about climate and the environment.

Listen to the full episode here:

Guests

Episode #59 talking points

– What Champions for Earth and We Play Green are doing to move athletes from voice to action

– How athletes can talk authentically about climate and the environment, and push back against accusations of hypocrisy

– Why general athlete characteristics are ideal for tackling massive issues like climate change

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