More Than a Game: How Football Can Drive Climate Action

We sat down with founder Elliot Arthur-Worsop to talk about why football has such a powerful role to play, the biggest environmental challenges facing the sport, and how fans can help shape a more sustainable future.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and Football For Future?

I'm Elliot, founder of Football For Future. I'm 31, originally from Sussex, and I've spent the last decade working in climate action after studying environmental science at university.

Football For Future is a non-profit that helps the football world respond to the climate crisis. We work with clubs, players, governing bodies and major tournaments to educate, inspire and support more sustainable action, while using football's incredible cultural influence to reach people who might not normally engage with environmental issues.

No two weeks ever look the same. One day we might be delivering workshops with young players at a Premier League academy, the next we're advising organisations on sustainability strategy or working with footballers to raise awareness of climate issues. It's a hugely varied role, which is one of the things I love most about it.

Why was Football For Future created?

Football For Future was created because there was a disconnect that I couldn't stop thinking about. The science on climate change has been clear for a long time, yet when you look at the world's response, it's obvious we still aren't acting at the speed or scale that's needed.

That made me wonder whether this was just a scientific challenge, or whether it was also a cultural one.

Football is the world's biggest sport. It brings together people from every background, generation, religion and political belief in a way that very few things can. At a time when the world often feels increasingly divided, that's incredibly powerful.

We created Football For Future to help unlock that potential. We work with clubs, players and competitions because they have an extraordinary ability to shape culture, start conversations and inspire action. If we can empower football to become part of the climate solution, we can reach millions of people who traditional environmental campaigns might never engage.

I didn't create Football For Future because football needed climate. I created it because the climate movement needed football.

Why is sustainability important in football?

Sustainability in football means different things to different people.

On one level, it's about reducing the environmental impact of the game. Clubs can cut emissions, improve energy efficiency, reduce waste and often save money in the process. Supporters increasingly expect this too, and with new regulations coming in, it's quickly becoming part of running a modern football club.

But for me, sustainability is also about protecting the future of football itself.

Climate change is already disrupting the game. We're seeing more matches affected by extreme heat, flooding and poor air quality, while community pitches around the world are becoming unplayable. So alongside reducing emissions, we also need to invest in adaptation and resilience to make sure football can thrive in a changing climate.

Finally, football clubs have a unique role in society. They're often the most trusted institutions in their communities, with an ability to bring people together across generations and backgrounds. With that influence comes a responsibility. If football can help create healthier, more resilient communities while protecting the game we all love, that's a role worth embracing.

What’s football’s biggest environmental challenge?

Like every industry, football's biggest challenge is moving fast enough to respond to the climate crisis.

But football has an added challenge: performance will always come first.

Whether you're a club owner, coach, player or fan, the priority is winning matches. As passionate as I am about climate action, I don't think sustainability can ever ask football to compromise performance. If it does, it simply won't succeed.

The opportunity is to stop treating those things as being in conflict.

Good sustainability can actually improve performance. Investing in resilient pitches means fewer games lost to flooding or drought. Energy efficiency can reduce operating costs. Better planning around extreme heat helps protect player welfare. Looking after local green spaces strengthens the communities that support clubs.

The challenge isn't convincing football to care less about performance. It's showing that protecting the future of the game and improving performance can go hand in hand.

How can fans make a difference?

Football fans are incredibly powerful. We've seen supporters save clubs, influence owners and drive huge social change. There's no reason that same passion can't help tackle climate change.

The biggest thing fans can do is use their voice. If you want your club to take sustainability more seriously, tell them. If your local pitches are flooding or suffering from extreme weather, speak to your local council. Support players and clubs who are using their platforms to drive positive change.

But I also think it's bigger than football.

Being a football fan isn't an identity that stops when the final whistle blows. The same values of community, looking after one another and standing up for what matters should carry into your workplace, your family and your everyday life.

And don't put too much pressure on yourself to be perfect. Nobody is. Stay curious, ask questions, vote, have conversations, and do what you can. Real change doesn't happen because a few people do everything perfectly. It happens because millions of people do something.

What gives you hope for the future of football?

What gives me hope is that we already have most of what we need.

We have players who want to use their platforms for good. We have fans who care deeply about protecting their clubs and communities. We have incredible innovations in technology, pitch management and renewable energy. And football has the resources to make a real difference.

The challenge isn't a lack of ideas. It's connecting the people with the power and resources to those with the expertise and solutions.

I'm also optimistic because football has these incredible moments that bring the world together. Major tournaments like the World Cup or the EURO’s aren't just sporting events… they're cultural moments that can inspire millions of people and accelerate change far beyond football itself.

If we can bring together football's influence with the right partnerships and a shared sense of purpose, I genuinely believe the game can become one of the world's most powerful forces for positive change.

Football has always been about bringing people together. As Elliot reminds us, that same sense of community can become one of the sport's greatest strengths in tackling climate change.

At Reskinned, we're proud to champion the people and organisations proving that sustainability isn't limited to one industry. Whether it's keeping clothes in circulation or helping football become a force for good, every action plays a part in building a more circular future.

Watch our full interview with Elliot to learn how football can help drive positive change, on and off the pitch.

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