“Game Changer: How Climate Change is Transforming the World of Sports”

In her debut book, “Warming Up: How Climate Change Is Changing Sport,” researcher Madeleine Orr delves into the impact of climate change on the sports industry. Orr, a sport ecologist at the University of Toronto, provides a compelling case for action from athletes, sports leagues, and fans alike. She draws on her academic expertise to outline how climate change is disrupting sports around the world, from wildfires threatening high school football programs to rising seas subsuming coastal golf courses.

Orr shares personal stories that highlight the devastating effects of climate change on sports, such as the tragic death of college football player Jordan McNair due to heat stroke suffered at practice. As an avid skier, Orr also discusses how global warming is melting away winter sports and the local economies they sustain.

The book’s chapters focus on the current and future impacts of warming temperatures, rising seas, wildfires, and other consequences of climate change on the sports industry. Orr emphasizes how climate change disproportionately affects nations least responsible for greenhouse gas emissions, showcasing examples like Kenyan runners and Fijian rugby beaches.

Despite the grim reality of climate change, Orr offers hope in the last six chapters by highlighting how the sports world can adapt to reduce its environmental impact and ensure the survival of imperiled sports. She showcases the activism of athletes like Innes FitzGerald, a teenage cross-country runner who refused to fly to a championship due to concerns about air travel emissions.

Orr’s writing is authoritative yet accessible, making the book suitable for both sports fanatics and casual readers. “Warming Up” serves as a call to action for the sports world to address climate change and play a role in sustainability efforts. Readers can purchase the book from Bookshop.org, where Science News is an affiliate.