By 2050, U.S. coastlines could rise as much as 12 inches above today’s waterline and global temperature is projected to warm by about 2.7° degrees Fahrenheit due to climate change, leading governments, businesses, and industries to pay more attention to sustainability. Sustainability refers to the ability to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It involves balancing economic, social, and environmental considerations to ensure that resources are used in a way that is both responsible and equitable, while also preserving natural systems and biodiversity for the long term. Sustainability is gaining more attention from businesses and industries, being seen in news stories and new government regulations. We were interested to find out how the National Basketball Association (NBA) is concentrating on sustainability, given that the NBA playoffs have just begun. In this blog, we’ll discuss some of the key sustainability concerns the NBA is now grappling with, as well as some of the solutions they’ve been striving to adopt in recent years.
What are the Sustainability Concerns Facing the NBA?
One of the most significant environmental problems facing the sports industry, including the NBA, is the carbon footprint associated with travel. In the 2018-2019 season, the NBA was the most polluting of the four major American sports leagues in terms of travel, with each team traveling thousands of miles per season to play games (Bello). This level of travel generates a significant amount of carbon emissions, contributing to climate change and other environmental problems. There are 30 NBA teams, who each play 82 games, which ends up being a whole lot of carbon emissions being generated throughout the long NBA season. Traveling by air and ground transportation to different cities across the country requires a considerable amount of energy, resulting in greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. The NBA and other sports organizations have started to take steps to address this issue, such as by investing in renewable energy and offsetting their carbon emissions through carbon credits. With each of the 30 franchises playing 82 regular season games, 41 of them being on the road in a country as large as the United States, this level of travel generates a significant amount of carbon emissions and other environmental impacts, particularly in a country as large as the United States. The NBA as well as the many major sports leagues have a well known problem with waste whether its food scraps, plastic and aluminum waste, electricity waste, etc it’s one of the many problems that the NBA has been dealing with over time.
How Has the NBA Addressed Sustainability Issues?
Recognizing the impact of some of these issues, the NBA has taken steps towards environmental and sustainability initiatives, such as reducing waste and carbon footprint, promoting sustainable products and clothing like ‘adidas outfitting all NBA players with 50 percent recycled polyester shooting shirts, headbands, wristbands and socks made from 45 percent organic cotton were also provided to the players for Green Week.’, and investing in renewable energy. One solution is to encourage players and teams to adopt more sustainable practices, such as reducing energy usage in arenas, promoting public transportation for fans, and using reusable water bottles and cups. The NBA has also signed on to halve emissions by 2030 and aim for net zero by 2040. This is a huge step forward in the right direction for not only the NBA but for the sports industry itself as its setting the right example. This commitment to sustainability is a significant step forward for the NBA and the sports industry as a whole. It demonstrates a recognition of the urgent need to address climate change and a willingness to take bold action to reduce emissions and promote sustainability.
The NBA has also taken steps to reduce the environmental impact of travel by making changes to the schedule that reduce the need for teams to criss-cross the country multiple times. For example, teams are now more likely to play both the Lakers and the Clippers on the same trip to Los Angeles, the Nets and Knicks on a trip to New York, or the Heat and the Magic on a trip to Florida, rather than traveling back and forth multiple times. These changes are part of a broader effort by the NBA to promote sustainability and reduce its environmental impact. By reducing the amount of travel required for each team, the NBA can significantly reduce its carbon emissions and other environmental impacts.The NBA also is beginning to do their part in spreading awareness with their program ‘NBA Green’ where NBA players do their part in helping the community and the environment, using their popularity and huge platform to spread awareness.
What the Future Holds
The NBA is making strides towards sustainability through initiatives such as their Green Week and promoting sustainable practices in their arenas, but there is still room for improvement. Being a student and a fan of the NBA my whole life (Lakers Fan), I would like to see the NBA prioritize sustainability in all aspects of their operations, including transportation and supply chain management, and use their platform to raise awareness about the importance of environmental stewardship.
References:
Bello, R. D. (2022, August 24). The NBA takes action to reduce its carbon footprint. Le Monde.fr. Retrieved April 18, 2023, from https://www.lemonde.fr/en/sports/article/2022/08/24/the-nba-takes-action-to-reduce-its-carbon-footprint_5994611_9.html
NBA Green. (n.d.). Retrieved April 24, 2023, from https://green.nba.com/
NBA goes green. SLAM. (2010, April 6). Retrieved April 24, 2023, from https://www.slamonline.com/news/nba/nba-goes-green/
Ian Thomas. (2021, October 19). The NBA Arena that plans to end single-use plastic starting this season. CNBC. Retrieved April 24, 2023, from https://www.cnbc.com/2021/10/19/the-nba-arena-planning-to-end-single-use-plastic-starting-this-season.html
Lassman, A. (2022, May 12). NBA commissioner talks about league’s efforts toward sustainability. NBC 6 South Florida. Retrieved April 24, 2023, from https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/changing-climate-south-florida/nba-commissioner-talks-about-leagues-efforts-toward-sustainability/2758589/
Salerno, A. (2023, February 20). How the NBA is scoring a point for planet earth. Game On Recycling. Retrieved April 24, 2023, from https://gameonrecycling.com.au/blogs/news/how-the-nba-is-scoring-a-point-for-planet-earth
The Science of Climate Change. The Science of Climate Change | The world is warming | Wisconsin DNR. (n.d.). Retrieved April 25, 2023, from https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/climatechange/science
NASA. (2022, November 15). NASA study: Rising Sea Level could exceed estimates for U.S. coasts – climate change: Vital signs of the planet. NASA. Retrieved April 25, 2023, from https://climate.nasa.gov/news/3232/nasa-study-rising-sea-level-could-exceed-estimates-for-us-coasts/
About the Author:
Muhtada Fadlalla, Springbrook High School, Class of 2023
Currently a senior at Springbrook High School and a part of the AOIT program (Academy of Information Technology). Muhtada plans on completing high school and furthering his education by attending college and majoring in Computer Science. During his senior year of high school Muhtada began interning with Bethesda Green’s Innovation Lab through Urban Alliance, connects students to equitable, inclusive careers through paid high school internships, mentorship, and professional development.
