Faced with the risk of seeing “great nations disappear”, World Rugby publishes a report on the climate “in contradiction with spectator sport”

The international federation has published an alarming study on the consequences of climate change on the practice of rugby, while a new competition between 24 nations from the two hemispheres will see the light of day in 2026.

“This is a first in the world of sport,” welcomes Maël Besson. A specialist in ecological transition, he participated, within the Sport 1.5 agency, in the study “Rugby and climate change: the impacts of a +2°C world on rugby”, published by the international federation World Rugby, Tuesday June 4. This report should allow international bodies to prepare for the consequences of climate change, but also to accelerate efforts towards a more environmentally friendly sport, in line with the “Environmental Strategy 2030” launched in 2022.

However, this study comes less than two years after the integration of five South African clubs into European competitions, and a few months after the announcement of the creation of the Nations Cup, which will bring together 24 national teams every two years, multiplying the travel between the northern and southern hemispheres. “Our models of events and organization of championships contradict our objectives of reducing greenhouse gas emissions”recognizes Maël Besson.

An opinion shared by Aurélien François, researcher at the University of Rouen on questions of social responsibility of sports organizations: “There is a strong incompatibility in wanting to increase, for example, the number of teams participating in a competition and at the same time declare that you are reducing your carbon footprint. I find it hard to imagine how that is feasible.”

Before addressing the ecological recommendations, the report, published by World Rugby, identifies six climate risks likely to affect the ten countries studied to a greater or lesser extent: stadium flooding, heavy rainfall and flash floods, high temperatures (over 35°C ), droughts, high humidity, powerful winds and cyclones.

In this scenario, each year South Africa would experience an additional 15 days of extreme heat, five of New Zealand’s main stadiums could be submerged, uA third of the 111 stadiums studied in the world will be exposed to cyclonic phenomena and all countries are exposed to more frequent droughts and floods.

“We have great rugby nations, like Fiji [11es au classement World Rugby masculin]whose territory will disappear with rising water levels and climate change”, alerts Maël Besson. The Pacific archipelagos, centuries-old rugby grounds, are among the territories most exposed to climate change. The capitals Apia (Samoa, 14th in the World Rugby rankings) and Nuku’alofa (Tonga, 15th) are located on the coast, less than five meters above sea level, and the Fiji islands face disasters increasingly violent and frequent.

“This is only the +2°C scenario, therefore the most optimistic, in the case where we respect the Paris agreement. These are rather conservative hypotheses. Currently, we are rather on a trajectory which takes us to a much greater warming than that which we took in the report.”

Maël Besson, specialist in ecological transition for Sport 1.5,

at franceinfo: sport

Other issues of concern: “There is the question of increasing periods of drought, which will make lawn maintenance complicated”indicates the one who also worked with the Ministry of Sports and the WWF. “This is particularly problematic in rugby, where we need elasticity in the lawn to absorb shocks, tackles… If we have a lawn that is too dry, we increase the number of accidents and we can no longer play. .” Already in 2022-2023, 350 matches have been canceled or postponed in France due to weather conditions, according to the French Rugby Federation.

World Rugby does not hesitate to impose quantified objectives, in particular via its “Environmental Strategy 2030” plan, launched two years ago. With more or less concrete announcements: “apply the principles of the circular economy”, “reduce single-use items by 80% by 2027”, “reduce the carbon footprint of events by at least 50% by 2030”…

However, five South African teams joined European competitions in the same year, and World Rugby recently validated the creation of the Nations Cup, which will bring together 24 national teams from the two hemispheres every two years from 2026. “It is completely antithetical to the declarations linked to the reduction of the carbon footprint”slices Aurélien François.

An international match between two distant teams emits around four times more tonnes of CO2 equivalent than a domestic match, according to the Shift Project’s “Decarbonize Stadiums” report. “65% of the carbon footprint of sporting events comes from spectator travel”agrees the doctor at the University of Rouen.

“Mathematically, so much air transport does not fit within planetary limits and conflicts with mitigation objectives and the very survival of sports practice.also regrets Maël Besson. We are still in the spectator sport model where we are multiplying international events.” A model that perhaps accelerates its own downfall. “Leaders very quickly find themselves confronted with irreconcilable thingsshade Aurélien François. The system is to blame. A president of a federation, for example, is judged at the end of his mandate on his economic record, his ability to increase the number of licensees… We are already in a perspective of growth.”

“Sport will not necessarily be the priority in a world at +4°C. […] The sports, which will still be there tomorrow, will be those which have integrated the climatic and social context, and which will have evolved with the consequences of climate change.”

Maël Besson, former WWF sports spokesperson

at franceinfo: sport

While awaiting its voluntary or forced transition to a less polluting model, professional rugby is preparing for the consequences of climate change, with a range of technological solutions (underground watering, building insulation) and organizational solutions (calendar, match times).

“We will be forced to adapt our way of practicingbelieves Maël Besson. There are times when we will advise against practicing sports for amateurs because it will be too hot or too humid and it will be dangerous for your health. […] We can also imagine that there are periods when we are more in the ‘touch’ format [sans plaquage] to avoid shocks on too rigid floors.”

Adapt to survive, the watchword of a sport which will suffer the effects of climate change head-on: “It is certain that the rising water levels for the Pacific islands, there is no real solution and the problem is: where are they going to migrate?”