Posted on May 13, 2025 by Zevi Lawrence
#Climate Change #Conservation #Environmental Protection
U.S. professional sports leagues are doing their part to combat climate change, as shown by some of the sustainability goals and initiatives achieved by the four major leagues (NBA, MLB, NHL, and NFL). Highlights of these professional sports organizations efforts:
The NBA aims to reduce their carbon emissions by 50 percent by 2030, as stated in their annual Social Impact Report 2022. As of 2022, the NBA has implemented an annual greenhouse gas (GHG) assessment for all their league events and league offices. Similarly, every NBA arena has a “sustainability task force” employed to lessen their arena’s carbon footprint. Most notably, the NBA reduced team flight miles by 11% due to scheduling changes and reduced their flight GHG emissions by 39% during the 2022-2023 NBA season[i]. Overall, I think that the NBA has done a commendable job working collectively as a league to help mitigate climate change.
MLB incentivizes teams to achieve sustainability goals by presenting four awards to teams that show outstanding sustainability efforts. The “H2O Home Run” award goes to the team that most reduced its water usage from the previous year. The “Power Pitch Award” is presented to the team that goes to great efforts to preserve power and energy. The “Green Glove Award” is given to the team that demonstrates outstanding commitment to diverting waste from landfills at their ballpark. And, the “Eco-Slugger Innovation Award” goes to the team that implements sustainable initiatives and practices within their communities.[ii]
Six MLB stadiums are LEED certified, highlighted by Oracle Park of the San Francisco Giants which is certified LEED Platinum including the implementation of LED lights for their on-field lighting which has led to 55% energy reduction.[iii] Similarly, teams such as the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Angels have converted their lighting to LED lighting, reducing energy consumption by 60% in their stadiums, and the San Diego Padres use 100% renewable energy, offsetting 8,359,313 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent in 2023.[iv]
The NHL uses the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to guide their social and environmental responsibility. Most relevant to environmental issues, the NHL aligns with SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation and SDG 13: Climate Action.[v] A major sustainability issue in the NHL is water usage in order to maintain ice rinks, with an estimated total of 320 million gallons of water used during an NHL season throughout the league.[vi] The Seattle Kraken’s arena captures rainwater from its roof, enough to fill a 15,000=gallon cistern to hold the water, to be used for making ice. Staples Center, home of the LA Kings, uses an advanced environmental air-management system that helps to capture water from the air which is then stored in water tanks to use for non-potable water uses.
Each year the NFL inventories the estimated electricity usage at event facilities and then purchases renewable energy certificates (RECs) equivalent to that energy usage total, which enables the NFL to keep track of and incentivize their renewable energy use.[vii] U.S. Bank Stadium, the stadium of the Minnesota Vikings. is certified LEED Platinum for Operations and Maintenance and implemented LED flights for all lighting systems as well as maximizing natural daylight.[viii] The San Francisco 49ers have partnered with United Airlines and became the first team in the NFL to purchase sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) during the 2024 season.[ix] SAF is made from renewable materials and reduces emissions by 85% throughout its entire lifecycle.
Overall, the major sports leagues in the United States have made significant progress toward improving their sustainability, with efforts to limit carbon emissions, increase renewable energy usage, and limit water use.
[i] NBA_2022_SocialImpact_Report_10.pdf pg. 16
[ii] Green | MLB Together | MLB.com
[iii] LEED Certification | MLB Together | MLB.com
[iv] Club Initiatives | Green | MLB Together | MLB.com
[v] https://www.nhl.com/community/nhl-green/un-sustainability-development
[vi] https://www.nhl.com/community/nhl-green/water-stewardship
[vii] NFL Green | NFL.com
[viii] Sustainability | U.S. Bank Stadium
[ix] An NFL First: 49ers and United Airlines Launch SAF Pilot Project to Reduce Carbon Emissions From Air Travel
ABOUT ZEVI LAWRENCE
Analyst-Intern, G&A Institute
Zevi Lawrence is a senior at Binghamton University where he is studying Environmental Science with a focus in Sustainability while planning to obtain a Masters Degree in Business Administration after he graduates. Zevi is pursuing a career in corporate sustainability and is particularly interested in the sustainability of sports teams, stadiums, and the live events industry.
Published by Governance & Accountability Institute, Inc.
Design & Contents Copyright © 2005 – 2025 By G&A Institute unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Sustainability Update™ is a service mark of G&A Institute, Inc.
