In “Warming Up: How Climate Change Is Changing Sport”, researcher Madeleine Orr delves into the ways in which climate change is disrupting sports around the world. Drawing on her academic expertise as a sport ecologist at the University of Toronto, Orr presents a compelling case for action from athletes, sports leagues, and fans. The book highlights personal stories, such as the tragic death of college football player Jordan McNair due to heat stroke, and Orr’s own experiences with the impact of global warming on winter sports.
The book is structured with the first 11 chapters focusing on the current and future impacts of climate change on sports, including warming temperatures, rising seas, increasing wildfires, and other consequences. Orr also emphasizes how climate change disproportionately affects nations that are least responsible for greenhouse gas emissions. From threatened Kenyan runners to eroding rugby beaches in Fiji, the book sheds light on the disparate impacts around the world. The devastating flood in Pakistan in 2022 also serves as a reminder of how climate change can disrupt sports leagues.
Despite the grim reality of climate change’s effects on sports, Orr injects a sense of hope in the last six chapters. She explores how the sports world can adapt to reduce its environmental impact and ensure the survival of imperiled sports. Orr highlights the activism of athletes like Innes FitzGerald, a young runner who refused to fly to a championship out of concern for carbon emissions. The book suggests that the next generation of athletes, like FitzGerald, may lead the charge for sustainability in sports.
Orr’s writing strikes a balance between authoritative and conversational, making the book accessible to readers with varying levels of scientific background. Packed with information, the book appeals to both sports enthusiasts and casual fans. “Warming Up” serves as a rallying call for the sports world to take action against climate change and play a role in addressing this global issue. The book emphasizes the importance of collective effort in preserving the future of sports in a changing climate.
