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Supporting the global sports community in contributing to worldwide climate action goals, World Aquatics has officially joined the United Nations' Sports for Climate Action Framework

Announced on Tuesday at a special event on the Avenue des Champs-Élysées during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games World Aquatics President Husain Al-Musallam signed the Framework in a special ceremony on the occasion of the International Olympic Committee (IOC)’s Climate Action Awards.

With aquatic sports strongly linked to the natural environment, World Aquatics is evolving its sustainability efforts with the creation of an ambitious sustainability strategy which supports the UN Sustainable Development Goals and covers Environmental, Social and Governance issues.

In a statement, the international federation for aquatic sport advised that “joining the UN Sports For Climate Action Framework marks a significant step and commitment on this journey, helping to ensure that the sport's future is sustainable and that its athletes and sports are protected.”

World Aquatics advised that it align with its stakeholders to ensure that systematic efforts are undertaken both in the short and long term to promote greater environmental responsibility, to educate about climate action, promote sustainable and responsible consumption and advocate for climate action through communication.

I also noted that progress has been made around socially-focussed programs such as the Discover Water program (also launched in Paris on this year’s World Drowning Prevention Day) which aims to provide young children around the world with the necessary education and skills to enjoy aquatics sports safely.

To mark the occasion of World Aquatics’ signing of the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework, a panel discussion was held, led by Marie Sallois, the IOC’s Director of Corporate and Sustainable Development at the IOC and featuring the 2023 IOC Climate Action Awards 2023 finalists. The panel provided an engaging platform for open dialogue, highlighting the need for collective action and innovative solutions to protect the future of aquatics sports.

Speaking about the signing, World Aquatics President, Husain Al-Musallam stated “our athletes compete in water. Preserving our seas, rivers and lakes is central to the survival of our planet and our sport.

“It is imperative that we all work together across the global sporting community - and beyond - for this critical issue.”

Image: The 2024 World Aquatics Championships in Doha, Qatar. Credit: Myrtha Pools.

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