Japan Rugby signs the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework
The exposure of Japanese rugby to climate change risks
Japan made history in 2019 by becoming the first Asian rugby union to host a World Cup. After defeating Ireland and Scotland, they topped their group to progress to the quarter-finals, where they were eliminated by South Africa.
This World Cup was impacted by Typhoon Hagibis, which caused three games to be cancelled. This was the first time Rugby World Cup matches were cancelled due to an extreme weather event. At the national level, this typhoon is estimated to have caused Japan $10bn in economic losses.
Following the tragedy, Sihan Li from the University of Oxford and Friederike Otto from Imperial College London conducted a study to evaluate the increased likelihood and severity of this event due to climate change.
They found that for Typhoon Hagibis, climate change increased the likelihood of extreme rainfall by 67%, partly because a warmer atmosphere can hold greater amounts of moisture and thereafter release greater quantities of rain.
In its report “Rugby and Climate Change”, World Rugby also evaluated climate change risks, examining how rugby nations would be impacted in the coming decades by a 2°C increase in global average temperatures.
In this scenario, Japan would witness increased heavy rainfall and flooding frequency. It was also found that 2 of the country’s 12 major stadiums, Hanazono Rugby Stadium and Mikuni World Stadium, would be a risk of annual marine submersion.
Japan Rugby takes climate action
At the end of their Rugby and Climate Change report, World Rugby calls on rugby stakeholders, from clubs to tournament hosts, to take climate action and reduce the sport's environmental impact.
That’s exactly what the Japan Rugby Football Union (JRFU) did by becoming the first national rugby union to sign the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework. By doing so, they’re paving the way for other rugby unions to follow suit.
Japanese rugby is committed to contributing to global climate change mitigation efforts, as it recognises the role it can play in promoting environmental responsibility and how rugby is exposed to climate change risks such as extreme heat and heavy rainfall.
The JRFU intends to minimise the environmental impact of rugby in Japan at all levels, from amateur rugby to international games. The impact of their commitment could create waves of climate action, as Japan is home to an estimated 2,718 clubs.
The next step is for the JFRU to publish an “Environmental Sustainability Action Policy,” which we can expect to see by March 2025. Since they will be collaborating with World Rugby, their policy will likely be closely aligned with the governing body’s Environmental Sustainability Plan 2030.
That means themes such as climate action, the circular economy, and protecting the natural environment are expected be included. When the policy is released, you can count on Wavezero to explore the details and share with you the latest on the JFRU’s sustainability strategy.
