The only climate-dedicated football cup
As the excitement of the Euros and the Olympics began to fade, a lesser-known but equally significant tournament kicked off high in the Himalayas: the Ladakh Climate Cup. From September 1st to 7th 2024, six football clubs gathered in Leh for the world’s only climate-focused football tournament, hosted over 11,000 feet above sea level. But the Climate Cup is more than just a game – it’s a call for urgent climate action in South Asia, bringing attention to environmental challenges across India and beyond.
Founded by former journalist Shamim Meraj, the tournament highlights the daily struggles faced by communities on the climate frontlines, where the health of glaciers and unstable weather patterns directly impact people’s lives. Ladakh has felt the brutal effects of climate change, with melting glaciers, severe water scarcity, and erratic rainfall impacting local communities. In July 2024, the region experienced over 10,000% of its usual rainfall, causing floods and landslides that have forced entire villages to relocate. These same changing weather patterns are impacting athletes as well: landslides and falling rocks have taken the lives of mountaineers, and ice hockey players are finding that the lakes they once played on no longer freeze during the winter.
The region's most popular sport, ice hockey, is unable to thrive as it once did due to the impact of rising temperatures. Lakes that traditionally froze solid during winter, providing a natural rink for the sport, now often fail to freeze entirely. This not only disrupts the ice hockey season but also threatens the livelihoods of those dependent on winter tourism and sports activities. Without predictable weather patterns, the sport's future hangs in the balance, symbolising the broader challenges faced by Ladakh’s communities.
At 10,000 feet above sea level, Ladakh is a prime destination for extreme sports, offering stunning landscapes and high-altitude challenges. However, the risks posed by water scarcity, unstable weather, and falling rocks have made these activities increasingly dangerous. These hazards not only deter adventurers but also result in significant economic losses for the region, as tourism—a vital revenue stream—declines. Shrinking snow seasons further compound the issue, reducing the appeal of Ladakh’s winter sports offerings and increasing safety risks for those who attempt them. The region’s vulnerabilities reflect the broader challenges faced by mountain communities worldwide as they grapple with the impacts of climate change.
The 2024 Climate Cup was the second edition of the tournament, which hopes to take advantage of football’s social and cultural power to connect sports and sustainability and increase awareness of the dangers of climate change. Meraj, who founded Ladakh 1— the region's first professional football team—leveraged football’s popularity in India to deliver a critical message on sustainability. Aiming to become India’s cleanest, greenest football team with net-zero emissions by 2025, Ladakh 1 and the tournament have set an inspiring example. The tournament itself embraced sustainable practices, going plastic-free and transporting players in all-electric buses. Even the trophy was crafted from responsibly sourced wood by a local artisan. Ladakh FC players wore kits made from recycled materials, and for every goal scored, the Ladakh Forest Department pledged to plant ten trees.
To inspire and communicate this message, the Climate11 Summit was hosted alongside the tournament. It brought together experts, athletes, and stakeholders, including FFF Co-Director and Co-Founder Barney Weston, to discuss the intersection of climate change and sports, and emphasise how extreme weather threatens not only the livelihoods of local communities but also the performance and health of athletes. Indian triathlete Pragnya Mohan, highlighted the impact of extreme heat on her training, and mountaineer Skalzang Rigzen shared his firsthand experience of glacial melt at high altitudes. The Climate11 Summit provided the platform to connect scientific insights with the real-life experiences of athletes, to drive home how sports can play a pivotal role in addressing climate challenges.
Spreading awareness of local initiatives like the Leh Climate Action Plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote renewable energy, Ladakh can set an example for how communities affected by climate change can take action, and how sport can provide the platform to inspire change.As the Climate Cup and Climate11 Summit continue to grow, Ladakh has a vital voice in the global climate conversation, as a community on the front lines brings together leaders, activists and athletes to use sport as platform to host the meaningful conversations to drive urgent climate advocacy.
We agree with the powerful message at the heart of the Climate Cup: football is not just a part of the problem but can be a part of the solution. It has the unique ability to unite people and inspire action toward a sustainable future. It just goes to show how the beautiful game can bring communities together, serving as a platform for connection and inspiration. The stakes have never been higher—if we fail to act on climate change, we risk losing not only our natural landscapes but also the communities that rely on them and the game we all love.