The four-year investment from the Australian Government will fund a new programme called ‘Game On: Teaming Up for Climate Action’. It is modelled directly on the blueprint established by Cricket for Climate (C4C) since its founding in 2021 by Australian Test Cricket Captain, Pat Cummins. The programme aims to support up to 500 community sports clubs nationwide with critical climate-resilience and clean energy upgrades.

Bowen told GSS that their original goal was to support 1000 clubs. “We originally asked for $100 million, but $50 million is a fantastic start. We reckon that we can support 500 clubs with that.”

A Game-Changing Solution

The ‘Game On’ programme addresses a dual crisis threatening the heart of Australian communities. Over 14 million Australians are involved in community sport, yet 66% of clubs are struggling to make ends meet. This financial pressure is compounded by the increasing frequency of extreme weather events.

Bowen stated “This is a turning point for community sport. By acting on clean energy solutions, we’re not only lowering costs for clubs but also protecting the places where Australians connect, play, and grow.”

As Bowen explained, the challenges are diverse and widespread. “So many councils are closing grounds because they’re waterlogged,” she said, while in other regions, “folks can’t play because it’s too hot”. These disruptions not only affect participation but threaten the very existence of clubs that serve as vital community hubs.

The funding is designed to tackle these issues head-on. It will provide clubs from all sports, not just cricket, with upgrades such as solar panels, batteries, and energy efficiency solutions to slash power bills. Crucially, it also supports climate adaptation measures, including improved drainage to reduce waterlogging, shade infrastructure, and LED lighting to allow games to be played during cooler night-time hours.

The initiative stems directly from C4C’s successful proofs of concept and its ‘SPORT FOREVER’ campaign, which brought athletes and sporting bodies together to call for government investment in climate-ready community sport. The government has acknowledged that its thinking was “completely inspired” by the strategic work and modelling C4C presented.

A Model of Shared Value

For Bowen, the programme’s philosophy is rooted in creating “shared value” for all stakeholders. The financial benefits are clear: some clubs in C4C’s pilot schemes are already earning between $7,500 and $10,000 per year by selling clean energy back to the grid. Crucially, Bowen emphasised that these savings are reinvested directly where they are needed most. “All of that money saved goes back to clubs,” she stated. “It doesn’t go back to councils that own the venues… It’s going back to the grassroots game”.

Beyond the clubs themselves, the programme offers value to government by accelerating its climate goals, and to businesses who can partner to deploy their climate tech solutions at scale. This leads to a powerful “ripple effect” within the community.

“We know that when we do these projects… the communities jump on board,” Bowen explained. “So many of the club persons that we’ve worked with have done the same and put solar and battery on their own homes”. This community-level inspiration is a key, if less tangible, metric of the programme’s success.

The Next Innings

 With the government’s $50 million commitment set in stone for the next four years, Bowen’s focus has already shifted to the next target. “That’s what I’m working on now,” she told GSS. “How do we bring in the additional $50 million from industry?”. The goal is to secure matching investment from the private sector—an outcome the government itself has invited, stating it “wants to see the private sector step up”.

The impact of the programme will be measured through tangible data on carbon abatement and energy savings, which formed the basis of the modelling presented to the government. However, the broader benefits are just as significant. By ensuring grounds remain open and playable, the investment keeps communities connected and kids active, countering the negative trend of cancelled games and indoor, device-centric lifestyles.

While the initiative is Australian, its success could provide a powerful blueprint for other nations grappling with similar challenges. “Our aim would be for this to be adopted globally,” Bowen said. “It would work in other countries as well as it would here”.

Ultimately, this funding is more than an infrastructure grant; it’s an investment in the social fabric of a nation. As Pat Cummins stated, “I’m really excited to see the support from the Federal Government. It’s going to make a big difference for so many local sporting clubs across the country, meaning more play, fewer cancellations, and stronger communities. Sports clubs are the heartbeat of many Australian communities”.

With the ‘Game On’ programme, Cricket for Climate has helped secure a vital lifeline to ensure that heartbeat remains strong for generations to come.