Can the most popular sport on the planet inspire us to save the planet?
“Footballers can reach people that politicians and scientists normally can’t” - Morten Thorsby.
Photo via We Play Green
“'There are several things that make football the best tool to engage the masses for climate and environmental action work,' says 26-year-old Norwegian midfielder Morten Thorsby. 'It is a universal game. It transcends geographical, social, cultural, and religious boundaries. Secondly, it is both the most played and followed sport in the entire world, actively engaging over five billion people. And thirdly, professional football players are the world’s most influential people.'
"For those not acquainted with Thorsby, he plies his trade with plucky underdogs Union Berlin, who have exceeded all expectations in Germany’s top league this season. Thorsby has his sights firmly set on other goals than the title, though.
"In 2020 he founded We Play Green, one of the first sport movements working to mobilise the global football family in acting for the green transition. To support his grand proposition, Thorsby references a 2020 study from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), which found that footballers wield more influence than politicians and most other celebrities.
“'Many players want to make a difference but may not know how. That’s why we’ve created the We Play Green player program: to help players become climate and environmental leaders. By building a network of like-minded players, and connecting them with the right campaigns and projects, we can make a real impact.'” - Daniel Flendt Dreesen
Article: Can Football Kick Off a Climate Revolution?