– Such behavior is extremely unfortunate, because these people affect so many, says football pro and climate campaigner Morten Thorsby. Another footballer, attacking star Kylian Mbappé, has received a lot of criticism in recent days. The reason is an incident at the press conference following the Champions League meeting between Paris Saint German (PSG) and Juventus Mbappé and PSG coach Christophe Galtier were asked why they had traveled by private plane from Paris to Nantes the weekend before, instead of taking the train. The two looked at each other, before laughing. It has caused many to react. Including the mayor of Paris, Anne Hildalgo, France’s sports minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, and our own Morten Thorsby. Thorsby: – Should have known better – It’s a shame, but not surprising. We are most disappointed with the coach. He should know better. We wish Mbappé knew more, but he hardly has anyone around him who cares a lot about climate and the environment, writes Thorsby in an email to news. For a number of years, the national team player has worked to get the football world to take climate problems seriously, through his project We Play Green. – This just shows that there is a long way to go, and why organizations like We Play Green are important, Thorsby believes. The project aims to make football more sustainable. This is how they hope to influence others to make more climate-friendly and sustainable choices. Before long, they will launch a separate player program. It will give football clubs the opportunity to have a climate and environmental captain in the dressing room. – When it is ready, we will contact PSG, writes Thorsby further. ENGAGED: Morten Thorsby tries to influence others within football to make more climate-friendly and sustainable choices, including through the organization We Play Green. Photo: Beate Oma Dahle / NTB He and the gang behind We Play Green think it’s a shame that big stars don’t get more involved in the climate issue. On Instagram, Kylian Mbappé has over 72 million followers. In comparison, Greta Thunberg has just under 14 million followers. – The stars must go ahead and set an example. They don’t have to live perfectly, but they have to support the changes that are needed for us to achieve the green shift. They also have to do what they can so that their fans do the same, says Thorsby. In Bodø, PhD student Frida Austmo Wågan works with sports and sustainability. In her research, she looks at whether sport, and football in particular, can influence people towards more sustainable lifestyles. – Can seem double standards – The way they react shows that we still have a challenge in taking climate challenges seriously. The fact that they just joke about it says a lot about how they see the problem, and that they don’t take it seriously, says Wågan. – Football players live lifestyles that many look up to. If they can be role models for more sustainable lifestyles, it can influence those who follow along, believes Wågan. But the very biggest stars may not be known for promoting a sober lifestyle. Some people buy their own planes, they wear expensive clothes and of course expensive watches. The very biggest stars also fill the garage with powerful cars. – I think it might seem like a double standard if the same players come forward to talk about sustainability and the climate. Perhaps the fear of that prevents them from trying to speak out loud about the subject, says Wågan. IMPORTANT SYMBOL EFFECT: Frida Austmo Wågan at Nord University believes that what sports teams and stars do can influence people to make more environmentally friendly choices in everyday life. Photo: Privat It is difficult to turn the sport around Wågan recognizes that it is a demanding task to turn the sport in a more sustainable direction. – The biggest challenge is that the structure does not facilitate sustainable elections. The commercial has been given a greater place, for example in football. The best teams play many matches a week, so it becomes more difficult to make sustainable choices for transport, if you are also going to recover well enough for the next match, she says. But the researcher still believes that it is possible to change things. She refers, among other things, to cross-country skiing and athletics. There they have gathered several international competitions both geographically and temporally. That way, it will not be necessary to travel so much between competitions. – It can be a win-win situation. The athletes don’t have to spend so much time travelling, which is good for both them and the climate, says Wågan. – At the same time, we have seen the effect of collective actions, such as when the fans opposed the Super League. It shows that it is possible to make changes if many people come together. Morten Thorsby and the people behind We Play Green also believe it is possible to bring about a change. – It is no more demanding in the sports world than elsewhere, I think. But the athletes have to take an extra responsibility because they influence so many. We believe that sport is probably the only arena that can create the necessary support for the green shift. After all, football alone brings together half the world. If we manage to get the football family to support the green shift, it is probably enough to achieve what is required, writes Thorsby. POSITIVE: Morten Thorsby believes it is possible to bring about a change in football. – But we have to get the athletes to take on the role of leaders. The sports organizations do a lot of good things, but they struggle to get the athletes on board. If we are to achieve that, we need support for athlete organizations such as We Play Green, says Thorsby. Photo: Stian Lysberg Solum / NTB
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Kylian Mbappé receives criticism for climate response. Researcher at Nord University and Morten Thorsby are listed – news Nordland
