From extreme heat and flooding to drought and water scarcity, she warned that climate change is no longer a future risk for the sector. Instead, it is becoming an operational reality that will increasingly influence how sport is organised, where it is played and who is able to participate.

“We should be prepared for a climate that’s two degrees warmer by 2050,” she told delegates.

A Different Climate, A Different Sporting Future

Drawing on the CCC’s latest adaptation assessment, Pinchbeck outlined a future in which the UK experiences hotter summers, more intense rainfall and greater climate-related disruption. Perhaps the most striking moment came when she challenged perceptions of Britain’s future climate.

“The UK is going to be a hot country.”

According to the CCC, temperatures above 45°C could become possible in parts of the UK by mid-century, while heatwaves are expected to become more frequent and longer-lasting. At the same time, flooding, drought and water scarcity will place increasing pressure on communities, infrastructure and public services.

For sport, the implications are significant.

While much of the discussion focused on future risks, Pinchbeck emphasised that climate change is already affecting sport today. Drawing on her own experience as a rower, she explained how changing weather patterns are already disrupting competition schedules and training programmes.

“As a rower, let me tell you, we’re already facing disruption because of flooding, and it’s really already changing our season and some of our flagship races.”

The same challenges are emerging across many sports. Flooded pitches, overheated venues, water shortages and damaged facilities are becoming increasingly familiar issues, particularly for community clubs operating on limited budgets.

“The world is changing, and you will need to change.”

Adaptation Becomes a Strategic Priority

A key message throughout the session was that adaptation must now sit alongside emissions reduction as a strategic priority. The CCC identifies three major climate risks for the UK over the coming decades: extreme heat, flooding and water scarcity. For sports organisations, that means thinking differently about facilities, infrastructure and participant welfare.

“If you have any of those taking part in activities, using your infrastructure or coming to watch sporting events, you’re going to have to think about what you’re doing to keep them safe.”

Pinchbeck also stressed that climate change is not simply an environmental issue. The communities most vulnerable to climate impacts are often the same communities that sport is trying hardest to engage. As a result, adaptation is increasingly becoming a participation, health and social equity issue as well.

Despite the seriousness of the challenge, the CCC believes that investment in resilient infrastructure, cleaner energy and more efficient systems can deliver long-term economic benefits while strengthening communities and organisations.

“You can do the right thing, but you can also do the economically sensible thing.”

Hope, Not Doom

Asked how she manages to communicate such serious issues with optimism, Pinchbeck offered a simple response.

“You can scare people, but doom tends to just cause people to put a duvet over their heads and want to make it go away.”

Instead, she argued that the focus should be on practical action and achievable solutions.

“There is loads of hope in this.”

For the sports leaders gathered in Manchester, the message was impossible to miss. Climate change is no longer a future challenge sitting on the horizon. It is already reshaping the environment in which sport operates. The question is no longer whether sport will be affected, but whether it is prepared to adapt quickly enough.