Aligning Physical Activity Promotion with Global Challenges

The WHO Collaborating Centre (WHO CC) is researching how physical activity, climate change, and planetary health are interconnected. In recent years, the WHO CC has published several studies exploring these complex relationships and their implications for promoting physical activity:

Physical activity promotion in the age of climate… | F1000Research

A proposed checklist for climate-friendly sport and exercise programmes | European Journal of Public Health | Oxford Academic (oup.com)

Must we tell people to be less active? The dilemma of physical activity recommendations from a holistic health perspective | German Journal of Exercise and Sport Research (springer.com)

Physical activity promotion, human and planetary health – a conceptual framework and suggested research priorities – ScienceDirect

 

Reducing Travel Emissions in Sports

A major focus of the WHO CC is finding ways to reduce travel emissions in sports. Research shows that up to 85% of greenhouse gas emissions from some sports events come from athletes and visitors traveling to and from the events.

To address this, WHO CC staff have collaborated with computer scientists to develop a software tool using optimization algorithms. This tool can:

  1. Calculate Greenhouse Gas Emissions: The tool estimates emissions by calculating the travel distances of teams attending league games in a season. For example, it can estimate the travel distances for over 1.000 men’s football teams in the lowest division in North Rhine-Westphalia.
  2. Optimize League Play: By arranging teams into leagues that minimize travel distances, the tool can reduce travel by an average of 20%. In some cases, it can cut travel distances by more than 50%.
  3. Suggest Alternative Game Formats: The tool can recommend different game formats to further reduce travel. For instance, switching from single games to double-headers could reduce travel by 50%.

The WHO CC is currently working with the International Biathlon Union and the Deutscher Turnerbund to use this tool to lower travel distances.