Algarve is the most critical Portuguese region in the face of the climate crisis
01/08/2024
Research by the US space agency NASA points to the Algarve region as the most critical in the face of climate change in Portugal. An
From holding marathons at night to moving events to different seasons, “adapt” has become the buzzword for sports organizations looking to tackle climate change.
As climate change leads to a rise in average temperatures and extreme weather events become more frequent and intense, the likelihood of these events overlapping with sporting events around the world – and significantly disrupting them – is increasing.
According to the World Economic Forum (WEF), the impact of climate change is forcing us to adapt the way we watch, play and consume world sporting events, while at the same time affecting human life and health.
“The future of sporting events is under threat from climate change. Adaptation measures are increasingly vital to protect athletes, fans and sport itself as extreme weather events become more and more common. Many are already adapting to a new normal in order to preserve their sport and what it means to the community and the sporting spirit for generations of fans to come,” reads the WEF Forum Agenda.
By 2050, it is estimated that climate change will cause 14.5 million deaths and 12.5 trillion dollars in economic losses, according to the World Economic Forum’s report “Quantifying the Impact of Climate Change on Human Health”.
Adapting the Olympic Games
Since Paris last hosted the Olympic Games 100 years ago, the city has heated up by 3.1 °C during the period of the event, between July and August. Consequently, the organizing committees and the athletes themselves have had to adapt to the reality of the extreme heat, through strategies such as:
- Environmental monitoring with WBGT (Wet Bulb Globe Temperature) measurements to assess the risk of heat stress;
- Implementation of innovative shading and cooling areas, such as cool corridors, retractable roofs and misting stations;
- Flexibility in scheduling events to avoid daily heat peaks;
- Adapting uniforms and equipment to maximize heat dissipation.
Rescheduling the Tour de France
In extreme weather conditions, extreme sports put a lot of pressure on the human body to remain regulated. As a result, many cyclists end up suffering from heat-related illnesses.
This year, on the hottest days of the men’s Tour de France, temperatures reached close to 40 °C, prompting organizers to take measures such as spraying water on the melted road surfaces – whose asphalt reached up to 140 °C last July – and introducing extra feeding zones.
Faced with these conditions, the Union Cycliste Internationale has already created “an extreme weather protocol to guide race organizers in responding to these intense weather phenomena. As temperatures continue to rise, it will be necessary to make major structural changes – such as moving the race from July – to ensure the safety of cyclists and the future of the event,” describes the WEF.
Skiing without snow
More heat means less snow, which jeopardizes the operation of ski resorts and, consequently, the economy of the cities that depend on this tourism. A recent study concluded that, by 2100, one in eight ski resorts could have no snow at all. However, the consequences are already being felt.
The Alps, for example, saw record temperatures over Christmas and New Year, reaching 20.9 °C in northwest Switzerland, which led several ski resorts to close.
In these regions, the tourism sector is striving to adapt to the growing climate threats by investing in bike paths, climbing routes, hiking trails and artificial snow.
Marathons canceled
Marathons and long-distance races are being postponed, canceled or held at midnight to avoid the risk to human life.
An example of this was the women’s marathon at the 2019 World Athletics Championships in Qatar. To avoid Doha’s daytime heat, the race was held at 11:59 p.m., but that didn’t stop 28 of the 68 athletes from failing to finish due to the night-time temperatures (above 32 °C) and high humidity (over 70%).
In addition to the extreme heat, these events have to contend with extreme phenomena. The New York Marathon 18M training series was canceled in September 2023 due to severe flooding.
A recent study concluded that climate change could cause a decline of up to 27% in the number of viable global cities to host the Olympic marathon by the end of the century. The researchers therefore suggest that the marathon be held in October (rather than August) in several cities across the country, in order to protect the regional diversity of the Olympic Games and everyone’s health.
Fewer games and more home runs
In June last year, smoke from Canada’s forest fires hit major US cities, leaving around 75 million people under an air quality alert. The intensity of the smoke led Major League Baseball, the Women’s National Basketball Association and the National Women’s Soccer League to cancel games.
According to a WEF reportthe higher number of forest fires increases pollution levels and consequently worsens respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, potentially causing 9 million premature deaths a year by 2060.
In addition, the researchers found that climate change has caused more than 500 home runs since 2010, as the increase in air temperature has reduced the air’s resistance to the ball’s passage. This represents an average of 58 more home runs per season due to climate-induced warming.
She might have chosen to study Meteorology and Oceanography, but ultimately pursued Communication. And that's fine because if they don't get their weather predictions right, she wouldn't be the one to change that. She started by looking for sustainable ideas and projects for the university, and since then, she has never stopped (who stops, really?). She loves to watch tv shows, but she watches few because she is demanding. You don't need much to convince her to embrace new, "greener" habits and challenges.
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This article addresses an action that promotes the adoption of urgent measures to fight climate change and its impacts. SDG 13 also aims to improve education on climate change mitigation and impact reduction.
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