As we step into a new political era with Monday’s inauguration of Donald Trump, many wonder how his administration’s environmental policies will shape our future. With proposed rollbacks on climate agreements and renewable energy projects, those of us in the Pioneer Valley who cherish nature may feel uncertain and anxious. But beyond just affecting nature, the new president’s policies also impact leisure activities, recreation, and sport. As a sports lover, I am concerned about President Trump’s (lack of) environmental agenda. If you care about sports — from community games to professional leagues — there are things we all can do to protect this favorite pastime.

The Pioneer Valley and the U.S., like the rest of the world, are already seeing the effects of climate change. Severe weather events are becoming more frequent and extreme, leading to heatwaves, droughts, torrential rainfall, and floods. The wildfires around Los Angeles are an example of how extreme weather conditions can lead to consequences that also affect sports teams. The NFL playoff game between the Minnesota Vikings and the LA Rams had to be relocated, and Lakers and Kings games had to be postponed due to the wildfires. At the college level, Pepperdine, UCLA and USC are also affected. Northwestern University’s women’s basketball team postponed their game in L.A. in January, which will cause changes to the rest of the season’s schedule.

Heatwaves are also a growing concern. Summers in the Pioneer Valley can be hot, with temperatures climbing into the 90s. To date, the Pioneer Valley only experiences about four days per year on average where maximum temperatures exceed 90°F. Yet, the number of days per year above 90°F is projected to increase by 7 to 26 days by 2060, potentially resulting in up to 31 extremely hot days, according to a Massachusetts state-commissioned climate report.

Usually, these extremely hot days occur in the summer. So, for young athletes training for fall sports, this heat poses serious risks, such as heat exhaustion. If not treated properly, heat exhaustion can lead to death. According to the Korey Stringer Institute, at least 58 football players died from heat-related illnesses between 1992 and 2022 in the U.S. Many local schools and clubs lack air-conditioned facilities due to cost and capacity constraints, leaving players vulnerable. One way to mitigate heat-related illness is raising awareness among coaches and athletes and passing heat guidelines, such as more water breaks and changing practice times or locations to cooler times or more shaded places.

Athletes also need clean air and clean water to remain healthy and compete. Exercising in polluted air can cause breathing issues, reduced athletic performance, and asthma, as highlighted by a study published in Environment International. During the 2016 Rio Olympics, many athletes fell ill from just touching or ingesting tiny amounts of polluted water in Guanabara Bay. Here in Massachusetts, we value clean rivers and green spaces for recreation such as rowing, fishing, water skiing and much more. While the Pioneer Valley is fortunate to have initiatives like the Connecticut River Conservancy, the local waterways still need more policies and volunteers to protect them.

As like most things, sports are not only affected by climate change, but also contribute to it. Did you know that fan travel accounts for up to 98% of sport’s carbon emissions? Imagine the collective impact of Pioneer Valley residents driving solo to games instead of carpooling or using public transport. On top of transportation, sports facilities and venues consume vast amounts of energy for heating, lighting, and maintenance, which add to emissions and resource consumption.

But there’s good news: sustainability efforts in sports are gaining traction. For example, the NBA has adopted “no-fly” game schedules where teams play nearby opponents back-to-back, reducing air travel. This adjustment also benefits athletes’ recovery time. Sports arenas also are getting better. Oak View Group (OVG), which manages the UMass Amherst Mullins Center, owns, rebuilt and manages Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena. The rebuild involved Peter Luukko and Doug Higgons — two UMass-Amherst Sport Management alumni, who are intricately involved with OVG business operations, such as sustainability efforts.

The Climate Pledge Arena is the first all-electric arena, powered by renewable energy, leveraging Washington’s immense renewable energy production. Among other things, the arena harvests rainwater for the Seattle Kraken’s hockey ice. These innovative efforts show that sustainability is not only necessary, but also practical. In case of the Climate Pledge Arena these innovations give a glimpse of what is possible when sports and sustainability intersect, and leaders consider local geography and infrastructure.

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Closer to home, there are small but impactful steps we can all take. Kristen Fulmer, head of sustainability at OVG, gives some ideas: If you notice single-use plastics at events, can you highlight it and suggest alternatives? Can you find ways to support local venues in tracking their energy, water, or waste consumption? Can you bike, use public transportation, or carpool to games? Can you partner with local environmental organizations, such as the Connecticut River Conservancy, to organize cleanups or fundraisers on game days? Can you raise awareness via social media and game days to educate others about nature’s impact on sports or sports’ impact on nature?

Climate change can feel overwhelming, and while large-scale changes are still necessary, the issue of preserving nature and sport for generations to come does not go away with a change in political leadership. Instead, a lack of top-down action puts more importance on what we can achieve through collective action, because small collective steps lead to meaningful change over time.

Anne Dietrich joined the McCormack Department of Sport Management as a Lecturer this fall. Her research focuses on environmental sustainability in sport. An accomplished rower, she was a 3-time Division 1 national champion at Ohio State University and a member of the German National Rowing Team.