The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced the 15 finalists for the IOC Climate Action Awards 2025, an initiative that recognizes individuals, organizations, and federations that are transforming the relationship between sport and the environment. From reducing emissions to developing educational tools and reforestation projects, the nominees embody a new vision of the Olympic Movement: a sport committed to sustainability, cooperation, and collective action in the face of the climate crisis.
The winners will be revealed ahead of the Milano-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, but beyond the result, the message is clear: climate change is not a challenge separate from sport. With the support of Deloitte, a Worldwide Olympic Partner, the third edition of these awards aims to highlight the most creative and replicable solutions that are currently paving the way toward a greener future, where every athlete, committee, and federation can inspire real change.
Athletes turning climate action into legacy
Five athletes from different disciplines have shown that sports leadership can extend far beyond competition. Australian race walker Rhydian Cowley promotes the creation of climate plans within national sports institutions, reducing emissions and plastic use. New Zealander Hugo Inglis, co-founder of High Impact Athletes, channels funding toward organizations that decarbonize key sectors, while Canadian Oliver Scholfield, through Racing to Zero, advises federations and events on measuring and reducing their environmental footprint.
Canadian rower Gabrielle Smith leads the Rising Tides project, dedicated to cleaning waterways and facilitating environmental education for underprivileged children. Meanwhile, Kenyan Kevin Wekesa drives Play Green, an initiative that has replaced thousands of plastic bottles with reusable alternatives and brought sustainability workshops to more than 40 schools. Each of them demonstrates that climate commitment can be woven into everyday sports life, fostering more aware and resilient communities.
Organizations redefining sustainability in sport
In the National Olympic Committees category, the finalist projects show how institutions can transform their structures for lasting impact. The British Olympic Association drastically reduced its emissions at Paris 2024, while Cabo Verde and its Olympic Sea project use sport to restore coastal ecosystems. Colombia, through the COC, has made climate action a core part of its events and training programs, and the Spanish Olympic Committee developed the Sustainable Sport Seal to certify organizations with strong environmental practices. Meanwhile, the Netherlands focuses on electric mobility and shared transport as key pillars of its ecological transition.
In the realm of International Federations, the commitment is equally strong. The International Biathlon Union promotes emission reduction strategies and environmental training for athletes; the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) created a CO₂ calculator to design more sustainable events; and the ITTF launched a global educational platform on sustainability. Additionally, World Sailing and World Triathlon have integrated environmental measurement and certification systems into their competitions, setting a precedent for the future of global sport.
