The climate crisis is wreaking havoc but sport can be a part of the solution
As cricketers with resources to hand, we have the opportunity to support our sport in making a tangible difference O n Saturday 4 January 2020, my local cricket club was smack bang in the middle of the hottest place on earth , with Penrith in Sydney reaching a scorching high of 48.9C. The devastating bushfires of that summer saw kids matches and Big Bash League games alike postponed or even cancelled due to the smoke haze , as players played through toxic air. I turned up to watch a Sheffield Shield game at the SCG and was unable to see the ball because the smoke was so thick. There was even a concern it could delay the start of Australias third Test against New Zealand . Two years earlier in 2018, I played in the Ashes Test in Sydney where England captain Joe Root was admitted to hospital after batting through a 47C day in a helmet and pads. When we were batting earlier in the day, we delayed our declaration, even though we had plenty of runs, because we decided it was too hot to be out in the field. And its not just Australian cricket that is impacted. The Cape Town drought of 2015-18 in South Africa resulted in the temporary cancellation of club and school cricket due to extreme water rationing. Bangladesh is ranked the seventh most climate-vulnerable country by the Global Climate Risk Index, while Pakistan comes in at eighth. In August 2020, Karachi in Pakistan received 230mm of monsoon rain, the highest amount of rain to fall in a single day in that city. Global warming is already wreaking havoc on our sport. And, while sport may not be the obvious or most important reason to tackle climate change, it gives us a window into the kind of future we could be facing. It is clear we are not doing enough to reduce carbon pollution, largely from the burning of coal, oil and gas. Scientists are clear we need to at least halve our carbon emissions by 2030 to have any chance of keeping warming to below 2C and avoiding the worst impacts of climate change. It is the responsibility of us all to leave this planet in better shape for future generations. Ive thought about that so much more since my fiancee Becky and I welcomed our son into the world in late 2021. The reality is, the impact of climate change on sport, our way of life and the legacy we leave for our kids will continue to worsen if we dont take action now. Like all Australian athletes, we cricketers try to punch above our weight on the world stage. And with the incredible resources we have to hand, we want to do that on climate too. Few countries in the world can match Australias extraordinary potential to generate renewable energy like solar and wind power we think this is a win-win for our game and for the environment. From a cricketers perspective, part of that is addressing the emissions that come with travelling the world to play, as well as doing those small things in our own lives that can make a cumulative difference. But we also have the opportunity to support our sport from the grassroots to the professional level in making a tangible difference. Thats why, along with more than a dozen players from across the mens and womens teams, we have started Cricket for Climate a movement whose goal is for cricket clubs across Australia to achieve net-zero emissions over the next decade. Our first initiative is the installation of solar panels on the roofs of 15 clubs across Australia. I and the other players are involved in funding the installations on our local clubs and Im proud that mine, Penrith, is the inaugural beneficiary of a solar system under this program. This is the start of what will hopefully be a much bigger project that focuses on driving practical change by unlocking the rooftop solar potential of more than 4,000 community cricket clubs in Australia. It is an initiative that is not just good for the environment, but also for local cricket clubs. Not only does this system reduce the clubs carbon emissions but they are much better off financially. Penrith Cricket Club will save more than $3,000 every year through the use of the solar panels. This will allow them to invest those savings into areas such as more resources for female cricket and to increase off-season programs for local juniors. At the same time, were proud that the Australian Cricketers Association has signed the UNs Sports for Climate Action framework and is supporting our initiative. Sport is a huge part of our Australian way of life and now it can be part of the solution. As professional cricketers were so lucky to get to pursue the game we love for a living and now were excited to be a part of helping out the clubs that gave us our start in the game. Pat Cummins is the Australian mens Test cricket team captain