Sofie Junge Pedersen, a midfielder for the Denmark women’s national football team, is leading a group of 44 stars who are committed to taking responsibility for the environmental impact of their flights to and from the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. The players are donating money to climate resilience and carbon-offsetting initiatives, with the hopes of creating meaningful change in the long term.
Pedersen has been calculating her carbon emissions from travel for the past five years and offsetting them through donations to organizations that plant trees and implement sustainable projects. However, this time she wanted to involve her fellow players in an effort to make a larger impact.
Pedersen gave presentations to her club and international teammates, explaining the consequences of climate change and what they could do about it. The response was overwhelmingly positive, leading her to launch a campaign for offsetting the environmental impact of their flights to the World Cup.
The campaign has gained support from high-profile players like Canada’s Jessie Fleming and Italy’s Elena Linari. The chosen charities focus on repairing landslides in koala habitats in Australia, coastal habitat restoration in New Zealand, and tree planting in Uganda.
While the initiative is a short-term solution, Pedersen believes it can build momentum and raise awareness about the environmental impact of air travel. The goal is to push for greener and more sustainable practices in future sporting events, such as the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris and the men’s World Cup in North America in 2026.
Pedersen emphasizes that the most important step is to avoid emissions in the first place by transitioning to more sustainable forms of transportation. Offsetting flights is not a permanent solution but serves as a starting point to spark change.
As the Women’s World Cup approaches, Pedersen is excited about the opportunity to showcase the sport to women and girls around the world. She believes that by taking collective action, they can not only make a difference in the fight against climate change but also inspire others to join the cause.
In conclusion, Sofie Junge Pedersen and a group of 44 leading women’s football players are leading a campaign to offset the environmental impact of their flights to and from the Women’s World Cup. By donating to climate resilience and carbon-offsetting initiatives, these players hope to raise awareness and inspire others to take action against climate change. Their efforts serve as an example of athlete activism and demonstrate the potential for sports to contribute to a greener and more sustainable future.
