Impact of sport on the environment

Whenever a person engages in sport there is an impact on the environment. Equipment, apparel or facilities, all have an "ecological footprint" - an impact on the natural environment. Building and managing a sport facility and operating an event uses energy and can contribute to can contribute to air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions and waste generation, as well as to ozone layer depletion, habitat and biodiversity loss, soil erosion and water pollution.

Some common ways in which sport affects the environment:

Development of fragile ecosystems or scarce land for sport
Noise and light pollution from sport
Consumption of non-renewable resources (fuel, metals, etc.)
Consumption of natural resources (water, wood, paper, etc.)
Emission of greenhouse gases by consuming electricity and fuel
Ozone layer depletion (from refrigerants)
Soil and water pollution from pesticide use
Soil erosion during construction and from spectators
Waste generation from construction of facilities, and from spectators