The Sovereign Prince at the 2025 Climate Action Awards within Milan-Cortina 2026.

Sport can contribute to Climate Action through two main actions: reducing the negative impact of its activities, notably big events and competitions, while increasing the positive impact through advocacy, best practices, and inspiring social initiatives.

The upcoming Italian Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, Milan-Cortina 2026, mark a turning point in terms of environmental protection and eco-sustainability, combining energy efficiency, circular economy, anti-waste food management, and environmentally friendly organisational protocols to reduce the carbon foot print.

Not by chance, the IOC Climate Action Awards, at its third edition, were held in Milan on the 4th February 2026, ahead the Winter Olympic Games (from the 6th to the 22nd February 2026). H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco, actively participated in the awards ceremony, recalling how sport is an undisputed driver of Sustainable and Responsible Development. The Sovereign Prince has always been a supporter of the role of sporting values, being a sportsman Himself. In fact, He competed in the bobsleigh discipline at five consecutive Winter Olympics representing the Principality of Monaco, taking part in both the two-man and four-man events, helping to give visibility to this winter sport.

The IOC Climate Action Awards celebrates athletes, National Olympic Committees and International Federations which are committed in providing progress in the fight against Climate Change.

Photo >> Kirsty Coventry, International Olympic Committee (IOC) President, and H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco pose for photos with the award-winning athletes and sport associations during the announcement of the winners of Climate Action Awards 2025 by International Olympic Committee, ahead of the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, in (Milan, Italy, 4th February 2026) © 2026 International Olympic Committee

Kirsty Coventry, President of the IOC, pointed out how sports champions teach us to focus on what we can keep under control even in the most difficult and extreme situations, in order to improve performances and be successful. This is exactly the spirit that animates climate adaptation and mitigation projects, and this common basis is a source of inspiration.

This year, Hugo Inglis, Field Hockey champion from New Zealand, was given the IOC Climate Action Award for co-funding High Impact Athletes - HIA, a funding global mouvement addressed to sport athletes to encourage climate solutions.

The four-time Olympian field hockey player for New Zealand, considered one of the best hokey player worldwide, realised that his brilliant international career was generating a considerable carbon footprint, as a result of his frequent air travels. He therefore thought of doing something concrete for the Planet.

HIA gathers more than 240 athletes from 50 disciplines and 35 countries, making it possible to collect more than USD 2 million to build up a positive impact on areas affected by climate change, favouring global health and animal welfare.

Kevin Wekesa, Rugby Sevens champion from Kenya, was acknowledged the IOC Climate Action Award as the founder of Play Green with Kevin Wekesa, an association aimed at connecting sports and sustainability for a greener future, offering climate education in Kenyan schools, while promoting tree planting and the reduction of plastic use.

Being connected with forty educational institutions, Play Green designs many workshops focused on water conservation, waste management and climate justice.

The programme by Kevin Wekesa succeeded in replacing single-use plastic bottles with reusable alluminium ones, at the use of all national rugby teams, allowing to save about 1,000 plastic bottles every week, and to launch recycling initiatives in several sport clubs and federations . Moreover, 2,300 trees have been planted thanks to the intervention of his team.

In the category "National Olympic Committee", the IOC Climate Award went to NOC*NSF (Nederlands Olympisch Comité*Nederlandse Sport Federatie) from the Netherlands. The Sport Federation invested in a specific programme to reduce the impacts of mobility, creating a comprehensive integrated system by combining electric vehicles, e-bikes and a digital mobility platform in order to encourage low-emission means of transport. The Team NL’s fleet has been converted in electric vehicles by 65% out the total, contributing to a 40% reduction in emissions, in view of reaching 100% electric vehicles by 2027. At the same time, the NOC*NSF has launched a new line of sustainable clothing and equipment, including carbon emissions as a leading criteria in all procurements and purchases.

The International Biathlon Union - IBU - was awarded in the same category for its comprehensive climate strategy which involves competitions, operations and community engagement. The IBU was the first Winter International Federation to include in a climate transition plan both World Cups and World Championships. Strongly committed in fostering energy efficiency and climate-positive activities, the IBU promoted a series of social media campaigns led by 26 Athletes Ambassadors from 17 countries to promote and disseminate climate action, in order to connect with the greatest number of fans and followers.

The Sovereing Prince concluded the IOC Climate Action Award Ceremony by addressing these words to the audience: « Thank you for your commitment, and for helping to make sport more sustainable ». ***

🎬 Official video introducing to the 2025 Climate Action Awards © 2026 International Olympic Committee

In the category "Highly Commended", the Comité Olímpico Español - COE - from Spain stood out for its structured and measurable approach to decarbonisation and governance, centred on energy efficiency and sustainable mobility. To reinforce its action, the COE gave birth to the Sustainable Sports Seal, a certification system which merges environmental, social and economic criteria into the management of sporting events and organisations.

Last but not least, the World Sailing was given the same category award for its data-driven work to reduce emissions from support vessels, one of sailing’s most carbon-intensive elements, to develop a win-win blueprint. At the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, it was possibile to reduce fuel consumption and emissions by more than 20% through tangible actions like: optimising fleet size, standardising engine power and providing eco-piloting training to influence driving behaviour on the water (source IOC). ***

✒️ Maurice Abbati

• Strategic Communication Specialist, Editor in Chief, Journalist, Executive.

• Lecturer and Author in English in the field of Environmental Communication to foster Circular and Blue Economy.