The FIFA Executive Member, Isha Johansen, has delivered a key note speech on behalf of the world Football governing body at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in the United Kingdom.
Johansen who doubles as a Vice President of Confederation of African women’s Football organizing Committee and also CAF Executive member emphasized in her keynote speech that
“We, as inhabitants of this planet, must all make this our priority,” she added in addressing the Sports for Climate Action − On the Race to Zero session at COP26. “Football also has the power to radically shift mindsets on climate change and mainstream climate action. We have a huge, attentive audience and it is our duty to amplify these key messages. “We will help educate fans on climate change and encourage them to play their part in protecting the planet and the beautiful game. We have a moral, urgent duty to accelerate our action. Our commitment to protecting our climate remains unwavering.”
The FIFA Climate Strategy consists of four pillars and three key goals that will put FIFA on the path to climate-friendly performance, to protect FIFA’s tournaments from the negative climate change impacts, and to ensure climate-resilient football development across FIFA operations and events by 2040. It includes a host of concrete initiatives to:
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educate the global football workforce on climate-related impacts and climate-friendly solutions;
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adapt football regulations and activities to be more resilient to current and anticipated impacts of climate change;
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reduce the carbon emissions of FIFA and football to contribute to the Paris Agreement and the UNFCCC Sports for Climate Action Framework objectives; and
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invest in climate protection and support football stakeholders with access to know-how to tackle the impacts of climate change.