The climate in the UK has been experiencing changes in recent decades, including rising temperatures and increased rainfall. As a result, grassroots sport organisations are already facing growing challenges: waterlogged pitches, coastal erosion, and rising maintenance costs are making facilities harder to use and sustain. These disruptions not only reduce participation opportunities but also threaten the financial viability of many clubs.

Alma Economics was commissioned by the Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) to assess how climate change is affecting grassroots sport in the UK, both environmentally and financially. The project also explored ways to reduce the environmental impact of grassroots sport and identified adaptations to support the sector’s long-term environmental and financial sustainability.

We used a mixed-methods approach combining a review of academic and grey literature with interviews across national governing bodies and grassroots organisations. In parallel, a system-wide carbon and financial model was developed to quantify both the impact of grassroots sport on the environment and the financial impact that climate change is likely to have on grassroots sport clubs.

Our findings provide a robust evidence base to inform DCMS’s future strategy for supporting the long-term sustainability of the grassroots sport sector. By identifying key risks and opportunities, this work supports more targeted, sustainable interventions, helping the sector adapt to climate change while remaining financially resilient.

Read the report here.