Imagine a world where climate action is the most celebrated sport. We can all play for Team Earth our collective power to drive cultural change.
Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
Sports and entertainment have a unique way of bringing people together across a large audience, especially across political lines, personal differences, and borders. Whether you're cheering in the crowd or playing on the field, there's something undeniably powerful about being united around a common goal. When it comes to climate action, that kind of unity is exactly what we need to create cultural change.
Here’s what we’ll cover step-by-step:
Culture shapes everything. What we cheer for, what we care about, and yes, even what we demand from those in power. In this space, we invite you to explore how you can help shift the narrative. You don’t have to be an expert, an artist, an activist, or an athlete to shift the culture of sustainability and climate action. You just have to care enough to show up.
Welcome to Team Earth. Let’s play to win.
🎯 Action step 1 of 4: READ — Let's start by looking at a few articles together.
Sports and entertainment unites us like no other. You can be on the same team with totally different worldviews, cheering for the same goal (literally), and being proud of your enthusiasm.
The sports and media space in general, can also be highly problematic in driving waste and consumerism. There's a lot going on, but they can create platforms that spark conversations.
Think about how sports shows up in our lives:
Imagine a world where climate action is the most celebrated sport. We can all play for Team Earth and harness our collective power to drive cultural change.
🏁 Checkpoint: This is the end of action step 1 of 4: READ.
🎯 Action step 2 of 4: LISTEN — we'll watch a short video or listen to a podcast to further expand on our topic.
When thinking about tackling climate change or shifting cultural norms, you may be surprised at how sports and entertainment can be an excellent starting point. Sports aren’t just games. They hold massive platforms that influence billions of people, shape identities, and inspire collective action across generations.
From athletes and artists shifting global behaviors to teams and the entertainment industry rethinking waste and sustainability, there's a lot to learn from the intersection of sports, culture, and climate action.
Ready to dive deeper? Choose your own rabbit hole adventure below and explore how sports (and entertainment at large) can be unexpected yet powerful levers for change.
Rabbit Hole 1: Narrative Change
Read about how world-famous basketball player Yao Ming changed an entire country's dietary habits. As you peruse, think about how YOU as a fan, recreational sports player, or general enjoyer-of-the-world can play your part in narrative and culture change.
“People said it was impossible to change China, but the evidence we are now getting says consumption of shark fin soup in China is down by 50 to 70 percent in the last two years,” Peter Knights, executive director of WildAid, told The Washington Post in 2013. And such a consumption decrease has continued in 2016. “It is a myth that people in Asia don’t care about wildlife. Consumption is based on ignorance rather than malice.”
Rabbit hole 2: Sports and circularity
Read about this author's perspective on fashion, entertainment, hypocrisy, and opportunities to reduce waste.
Rabbit Hole 3: Entertainment, music, & mega-events
Watch Adam Met (the "A" in the band "AJR") give a 5-minute rundown on levers for change in the music industry.
You'll learn about how you can hold artists, venues, and each other accountable, because there's NO MUSIC ON A DEAD PLANET.
The large influence of athletes, artists, and fans can be a powerful force for environmental and social change. Whether you're on the field, in the stands, or simply watching from home, you have a role to play in shaping a more sustainable future.
🏁 Checkpoint: This is the end of action step 2 of 4: LISTEN.
🎯 Action step 3 of 4: ACT — Now it's time to do something. Let's go!
Pop culture has the power to change the world, and so do you! Whether it’s music, sports, or art, the things we love already shape the way we see the world. That means they can also shape the way we care for it. Here are some ideas on how to engage!
1. Host a watch party for Ted Lasso Season 2 Episode 3.
Talk to your friends/teammates about what it all means ✨✨
2. Use your next night out to start a conversation with your friends.
For example, if you're going to a concert, you can drop a fun fact. For example, you can say: "Did you know Billie Eilish is decarbonizing the music industry?"
See what conversations spark from there. Whenever we recommend this type of action at Soapbox, people write back saying their friends are MORE climate-conscious than they'd thought!
3. DM your favorite artist.
We love bopping to Taylor Swift just as much as the next person, but our pop princess catches flights like none other. As fans of anyone or anything, it's our job to hold our teams, athletes, singers, dancers, comedians, etc. accountable. This can be as simple as sending an encouraging message: ("I love supporting artists who use their platform to preserve our only planet, so I appreciated when you did X").
Think of it like submitting a public comment to a government official: they might not respond, but they will hear you. If you're talking to a local athlete, find their agent's contact info. You can even get all your friends to write messages too!
4. Refuse those silly t-shirts.
If you've forked over your hard-earned money to your soccer league or a 5k running event, email the organizer if you're sick of being part of the textile waste problem. Most of us just put our brains on autopilot when organizing events. That means we autobuy those useless t-shirts.
You can send a note that says the following: "Hi, my name is [NAME], and I'm really excited for [EVENT]. I love that [EVENT] is doing an amazing job of getting people outdoors to enjoy nature and stay active. Our overconsumption of clothing is one of the things that make our planet and people unsafe, so I'd like to ask [YOUR ASK which could include stopping t-shirts, charging extra, etc.] Thanks!"
5. If your city is hosting a FIFA match next year, it's time to put your dreams to work.
Check out the host city lineup here across Canada, USA, and Mexico. All these cities have deadlines to make huge investments in their infrastructure, and it's our job and right as residents, to make sure we get the changes we want! Connect with your local representatives and find out what your city is up to.
By taking small, intentional steps, you're not just showing up for your favorite artists or events. You're showing up for the planet. You don’t have to be perfect, loud, or an expert. You just have to care enough to start the conversation, ask the question, or send the message.
🏁 Checkpoint: This is the end of action step 3 of 4: ACT.
Before we go any further, it's time for you to pledge your commitment. It takes less than 30 seconds to pledge and we can bother you about it in a friendly way, so we can hold each other accountable. Pledge here!
🎯 Action step 4 of 4: REFLECT — what can you commit to? What fresh perspectives can we look at?
Sports and entertainment all encompass the world of pop culture and media. In fact, shifting that culture requires us to let our imagination run wild. Think about your role in shaping culture change? Imagine there’s no boundaries to what we can create. That’s why we invite you to reflect through creativity and play.
Your mission today is to make something! Here are some ideas and options…
👉 If you could design swag for a sports league composed only of people who care about saving the planet, what would you do?
Bonus if you email us mockups and ideas for fun at team@soapboxproject.org!
👉 Make a meme, either online or through physical materials like a collage. @earthlyeducation and @gogreensavegreen have some great inspiration. A particularly golden time in the pop culture meme era was the Taylor Swift Jetting Everywhere bit.
👉 Design a flyer to save something specific.
Think about how a lost cat poster invokes more emotion, and maybe even action, than a "our earth is dying" poster. What is the most specific thing you want to save, especially in your geographical area? Is it an orca? Is it the paws of pets who can't handle the rising temperatures of the cement? Is it a community garden? We need better planet propaganda!
👉 Create a movie poster that subverts an existing film, TV show, superhero, etc.
Check out Katie Patrick's Greenzilla! (As a sidenote, she is one of the people who seems to understand the power of AI for climate imagination vs. stealing resources, which we find very fascinating.)
This is your chance to imagine a better future and still have fun doing it, one art project at a time. Culture is already changing, thanks to people like you! So keep going, keep connecting, and keep repping Team Earth.
🏁 Checkpoint: This is the end of action step 4 of 4: REFLECT.
Check out our membership community for more resources like free weekly events with social justice experts, sustainable product discounts, pre-written email templates, a social impact job board, and in-person hangouts with new friends. Thanks for taking action with Soapbox Project!
Get our free bite-sized climate action plans before you go!