Shifting society towards a more sustainable future for all requires empowered individuals, commitment, strong choices and a collaborative path. For players eager to be engaged in this journey and drive the change, we have developed a tailored climate champions programme.

The Climate Champions journey oversees a continued development of players from climate-curious individuals, to informed activists, through a series of workshops and trainings around the topic of climate awareness and action.

Following a first climate change crash course emphasizing the interrelationship between football and climate change, champions are invited to launch first brainstorming on potential climate action projects and collectively discuss impact opportunities. Building a community of climate-conscious champions, collaborating within and beyond the sessions, is a strong objective of the programme to reach a collective success and maximise each individual impact.

During the second phase of the programme, champions receive a support with monthly community check-Ins to empower them to independently take on their own climate action projects. Topics like Influencing and engaging your network, Communicating on climate change with media and on the social networks, Creating a legacy or Funding actions are discussed during these check-ins. These sessions should reinforce the collaboration within the community, bring confidence to the players to publicly advocate for climate action and provide the players to work with their unique networks to drive and influence sustainable change.

As the first cohort of players is going through this unique programme, feedbacks demonstrate a huge success in terms of capacity building and commitment. Champions show a strong willingness to engage with sustainability in their personal and professional lives and inspire their networks.