Football and climate change, a live Q&A with Lola May and Dan Hall

Football is community, identity, ritual, and emotion at scale. It also has a footprint, from travel to sponsorship to tournament design. Recorded live at Nature of Things, A Salon for the curious mind, this episode is a practical, honest Q&A between Lola May (Paddington Development Trust) and Dan Hall (Football for Future) on what “sustainable football” could actually look like, and how fans, clubs, and players can help shift the game.IN THIS EPISODE- The projects that inspired Dan most, and why local, community-led work matters- “There is no apolitical sport”, and what football teaches us about power and values- The money question, what could football fund if it tried?- Common Goal, and how 1 percent pledges can unlock real change- Fans and supporters’ trusts, how asking the right questions can move clubs- Player influence, especially among young supporters- The hardest contradictions, sponsorship, travel emissions, and sportswashing- Concrete actions listeners can take this weekLINKS AND REFERENCESLondon National Park Cityhttps://nationalparkcity.london/a-salon-for-curious-minds-football-and-climate-changeFootball for Future:https://footballforfuture.org/Common Goal:https://www.common-goal.org/Move for the Planet:https://www.common-goal.org/Project/Details/Move-for-the-PlanetFossil Free Football:https://www.fossilfreefootball.org/Suggested further reading:Wolves, One Pack One Planet:https://www.wolves.co.uk/news/sustainability/20250318-one-pack-one-planet-green-football-2025/TAKE ACTION1) Check your club’s website, is there a sustainability plan?2) If not, write and ask. If yes, ask what’s next, what’s measured, and who leads it.3) Get involved with fan groups or supporters’ trusts, evidence and collective voice matter.4) Push on travel, because it’s both a fan experience issue and a carbon issue.CREDITSHost, Lola May, Paddington Development TrustGuest, Dan Hall, Football for FutureRecorded live at Nature of Things, A Salon for the curious mindTAGSExplore more London National Park City Podcasts