A few years ago if you mentioned ‘football’ and ‘climate’ in the same sentence you’d be on the receiving end of raised eyebrows, and a retweet from Boring James Milner if you were lucky. But across the English game we are starting to see signs of individuals and organisations realising the importance of this issue, most significantly perhaps, from professional players.

The first player that comes to mind is of course Héctor Bellerín. The Arsenal fullback has become a trailblazing figure for sustainability in football, using his platform not only to raise awareness about environmental issues, but to make a direct positive impact.

Last season, the Spaniard pledged to fund the planting of 3,000 trees for each victory that Arsenal clinched over the final two months of the Premier League campaign. Fans from Arsenal and their North London rivals, Tottenham Hotspur, also donated generously to the cause in a powerful demonstration of collective action. But Héctor didn’t stop there...

As 2020 drew to a close, the Gunner sent an even stronger message to the world of football by becoming a major shareholder in carbon-neutral League Two side, Forest Green Rovers. FGR are recognised both by FIFA and the UN as the world’s most environmentally-sustainable professional football team. In an interview, Héctor described this investment as a desire to “support people who want to change the world for the better”.

Mainstream media might give him the most attention, but beyond Bellerín there are plenty more players using their platform to raise awareness about this important issue.

Patrick Bamford - one of the Premier League’s latest goal machines - has also been on target when it comes to using the power of football to inspire positive change. Bamford’s most notable contribution to the conversation is his iconic ‘lightning bolt’ celebration, which he’s revealed is “a symbol for [the] planet”. We hope to see a generous serving of this at the Euros.

Celebrations aside, the Leeds talisman has spoken frankly about the environmental scientific consensus, saying “climate change is a threat to sport and if we don’t act, it’s going to get worse.”

Gary Lineker has delivered a similar sentiment to Bamford, expressing the importance of ‘listening to the scientists’. The Match of the Day host has also been vocal in his support of Fridays For Future marches, which call upon governments to do more to tackle climate change.

In the women’s game, Manchester United vice-captain, Amy Turner, has used her platform to call for better environmental regulations. Earlier this year she took to social media calling for the UK government to stop shipping huge amounts of plastic waste to ‘developing’ countries, where it is often illegally burned or dumped into the natural environment.

Lewes FC forward, Katie Rood, is also an inspiringly outspoken player who uses her voice to raise awareness of a variety of environmental and ecological issues. The New Zealand number 9 often makes public appearances to discuss the role that professional footballers can play in tackling climate change, and has emphasised the need to embrace more sustainable ways of living.

Elsewhere, Chris Smalling has started investing in sustainable technologies such as plant-based meat and leather, acknowledging the impact of the global meat industry as a leading cause of greenhouse gas emissions. And Southampton’s Oriol Romeu has been vocal in support of his club’s new sustainability strategy (called the ‘Halo Effect’), saying “it’s crucial that we leave the planet in a better place”.

Veterans aside, it is exciting to see a younger generation of climate-conscious academy players coming through the ranks. This next generation understand the need for the wide-spread adoption of sustainable practices to ensure that they inherit a healthy planet.

Fifteen-year-old Colombian goalkeeper, Alexei Rojas, recently featured on Sky Sports with Bukayo Saka explaining how he has advocated for the introduction of environmentally sustainable operations at Arsenal’s academy training centre.

Alexei concluded his interview with some friendly and honest advice for Bukayo, saying that as a role model, he can inspire his fans “by having good actions and by showing people that you’re actively working to make the world a better place - to make it more sustainable.”

And so, it seems that English football is beginning to recognise a new competitor more daunting than a cold, rainy night in Stoke.

If climate wasn’t on the football agenda before, it looks like the conversation might finally have started. This is the essential first step, and from pro to grassroots, fan to federation, broadcaster to burger van - we’re all part of it.

Last year we saw the incredible impact that Marcus Rashford had ensuring food for disadvantaged children during the pandemic when the UK government failed to take necessary action. Just imagine what a whole squad of footballers united against climate change could do.

History will look back fondly on these pioneering ballers.

Editors Note: We believe that as role models, professional football players have a unique position to play in helping to raise awareness about climate change, and to advocate for sustainable practices at their respective clubs. This blog includes just a few examples of current professional players who have used their platform to talk about this - but please let us know if we’ve missed any. If you are a professional player seeking support to talk about these issues, don’t hesitate to get in touch. To find out more about the relationship between football and the environment, read our first blog.