Sport as a Catalyst for Climate Action: Promoting Environmental Awareness and Sustainability in Zimbabwe Through the Greening the Game Framework

Year : 2026 | Volume : 03 | Issue : 02 | Page : 15 24
By

Gondo Thembelihle,

  1. Senior Lecturer, Department of Physical Education and Sport, Zimbabwe Open University, Masvingo, Zimbabwe

Abstract

One of the most important worldwide issues of the twenty-first century is climate change, which poses a threat to economies, ecosystems, and human welfare.Although governments and environmental organizations continue to implement mitigation and adaptation strategies, public engagement remains uneven, particularly in developing countries where competing socio-economic priorities often limit environmental action. Sport is increasingly recognized as a powerful social institution capable of influencing attitudes, behaviours, and community mobilization. However, despite the growing international emphasis on sport for sustainable development, limited empirical research has examined how sport can be leveraged to promote climate action and environmental sustainability within Sub-Saharan Africa. This study investigates the role of sport in promoting climate action and environmental awareness in Zimbabwe. Specifically, it examines how team identification, athlete credibility, institutional capacity, and collaborative governance influence environmentally responsible behaviour among sports spectators and stakeholders. The study further proposes the Greening the Game Framework, a context-specific model designed to integrate sport into national climate action strategies. The study adopted a pragmatic research philosophy using a convergent parallel mixed-methods design. Quantitative data were collected from 650 sports spectators attending football and cricket events in Harare, Bulawayo, and Zvishavane, while qualitative data were obtained through semi-structured interviews with 24 key informants drawn from sports governing bodies, environmental agencies, local authorities, and corporate organizations. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, whereas qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings from both strands were integrated through joint display analysis. The findings indicate that strong team identification significantly predicts spectators’ willingness to adopt environmentally responsible behaviours (). Athletes were perceived as more credible communicators of climate-related information than traditional political institutions (), highlighting the potential of athlete-led environmental advocacy. Although participants expressed strong support for sustainability initiatives, institutional barriers including limited financial resources, fragmented governance, and aging infrastructure constrained implementation. Public-Private Partnerships and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) investment emerged as critical mechanisms for supporting sustainable sports infrastructure and community-based environmental programmes. This study demonstrates that sport has substantial potential to contribute to climate action, environmental education, and sustainable development in Zimbabwe. By integrating behavioural, organizational, and governance perspectives, the proposed Greening the Game Framework offers a practical roadmap for embedding sustainability within the sporting sector. The findings provide valuable+ insights for policymakers, sports administrators, environmental agencies, and development partners seeking innovative approaches to climate resilience across Zimbabwe and comparable Sub-Saharan African contexts.

Keywords: Climate action, environmental sustainability, sport for sustainable development, social identity theory, environmental communication, Zimbabwe, sports governance, greening the game framework.

[This article belongs to International Journal of Climate Conditions ]

How to cite this article: Gondo Thembelihle. Sport as a Catalyst for Climate Action: Promoting Environmental Awareness and Sustainability in Zimbabwe Through the Greening the Game Framework. International Journal of Climate Conditions. 2026; 03(02):15-24.
How to cite this URL: Gondo Thembelihle. Sport as a Catalyst for Climate Action: Promoting Environmental Awareness and Sustainability in Zimbabwe Through the Greening the Game Framework. International Journal of Climate Conditions. 2026; 03(02):15-24. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/ijcc/article=2026/view=260351

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Regular Issue Subscription Review Article
Volume 03
Issue 02
Received 17/07/2026
Accepted 21/07/2026
Published 22/07/2026
Publication Time 5 Days

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