Fri, January 23, 2026
The global sports industry could possibly lose $1.6 trillion by 2050 due to physical inactivity and climate change
A combination of climate change and a lack of physical activity could mean that the global sports industry risks losing $1.6 trillion (£1.2 trillion) by 2050, according to the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) recent report titled ‘Sports for People and Planet.’ The report engaged with 125 organisations and over 130 other sources to conclude this.
Even though the sport industry’s revenue is predicted to rise from $2.3 trillion last year to $3.7 trillion in 2030, and then to $8.8 trillion by 2050, with only one in five young people meeting the recommended daily guidelines for physical activity and due to climate change, it is also expected to suffer big losses.
According to the World Health Organisation, people are becoming increasingly inactive, with one in three estimated to be inactive by 2030, “shrinking the foundational consumer base that underpins participation, sports tourism, merchandise sales and long-term fan engagement,” as well as putting pressure on healthcare budgets.
The report states: “Analysis of 2030 revenue projections indicates that the greatest exposure to physical inactivity and environmental risks lies in sports tourism, sporting goods and participatory sports — sectors that rely most heavily on active populations and stable environmental conditions.”
Furthermore, sport is both a victim of “accelerating environmental degradation” but is also a “significant contributor to these pressures.” High temperatures, pollution and flooding all negatively impact sport at all levels, along with a lack of accessibility to clean water. Asia is experiencing such issues, and this is where the majority of sporting equipment is produced.
One example of how sport contributes to such issues is the release of two or three football kits each season, which usually end up in landfill. Sport industry leaders and government representatives have been discussing the future at WEF’s meeting in Davos, Switzerland, which will conclude on January 23.
U.S. president Donald Trump is reportedly in attendance, though he has repeatedly downplayed climate change, calling climate policies a “hoax” or “green scam.” He has also rolled back environmental regulations while promoting fossil fuels.
WEF’s statement and full report can be found here.
