Athletes Backing Environmental Causes
Athletes speak out readily on social justice but far less on climate, often because the topic feels too political or technical. That is changing, and the athletes who do speak up stand out.
Athletes speak out readily on social justice but far less on climate, often because the topic feels too political or technical. That is changing, and the athletes who do speak up stand out.
It is also becoming a performance issue: the 2026 FIFA World Cup was the hottest in the tournament's history. For outdoor, energy and EV brands, climate-active athletes offer credibility that is hard to get any other way.
The athletes
Héctor Bellerín (soccer)
Bellerín is football's best-known environmental voice. In 2020 he pledged 3,000 trees for every Arsenal win, and the campaign funded 58,617 trees in the Amazon. He became the second-largest shareholder in Forest Green Rovers, the club FIFA has called the world's most sustainable. At Real Betis he is an ambassador for the club's Forever Green programme, which aims for carbon neutrality by 2040. He has also worked with Formula E team Envision Racing and drives an EV.
Napheesa Collier (basketball)
The Minnesota Lynx forward is a member of EcoAthletes and has backed its climate campaigns.
The EcoAthletes network
EcoAthletes coaches more than 275 pros, Olympians and college athletes to talk about climate. For a brand looking for climate voices beyond the obvious names, its roster is the best place to start.
Brand fit and the greenwashing risk
Natural partners include EV makers, renewable energy companies, outdoor gear, plant-based food and sustainable fashion.
The risk is greenwashing. Climate-active athletes protect their credibility carefully, and fans will notice a mismatch between the athlete's message and the brand's footprint. Before you approach one:
Have a real sustainability commitment you can point to.
Fund something measurable, such as trees planted per win or emissions offset per game.
Let the athlete speak in their own words, not from your script.
Totalete indexes athletes across soccer, basketball, cycling, triathlon, running and more. Shortlist climate-minded talent and manage outreach on the campaign board.
Details from public reports, accurate as of October 2026.