[...] Rising heat, storm surges, and drought occupy thoughts about the future of the city of Bremen. When climate protests took place at the beginning of autumn, the officials of the local Bundesliga club Werder Bremen urged all employees to leave their desks or training grounds and participate in the climate strike.
"Climate protection is crucial. If we do not limit climate change, it will have catastrophic consequences," says Anne-Kathrin Laufmann, the director of the club's social responsibility. "It is our responsibility to tackle climate protection and improve the situation."
The German champion of 2004 is one of the few pioneers in the small but steadily growing movement of football addressing climate protection. Werder's stadium, the 42,000-seat Weser Stadium, has one of the largest solar panel integrations in Europe (200,000 solar cells generating approximately 800,000 kWh of electricity each year – enough to power 300 households), and they plan to use the year 2020 to draft a new environmental strategy.
Werder Bremen is one of the sports clubs that has joined the Sports for Future movement, founded to amplify the voices of athletes, clubs, associations, and supporters regarding the climate crisis. Developed by sustainability strategist Stefan Wagner, Sports for Future aims to launch campaigns, promote projects, and strengthen the claim for climate protection in high-profile sports brands.
Bundesliga club TSG Hoffenheim, second-division club VfL Osnabrück, Global United FC, and many other athletes such as Anni Friesinger (speed skating), Holger Nikelis (wheelchair table tennis), Sebastian Polter (football), Jacqueline Otchere (pole vault), and Lutz Pfannenstiel are among the founding members. [...]
