Sport England has announced major investment to help the sport and physical activity sector respond to climate change.
The £45m package of new National Lottery funding will be used to help more people get active in nature, restore flooded sports pitches and help sports clubs become sustainable.
New research reveals that three in five adults (60%) say extreme weather has had a negative impact on their ability to be active.
‘Every Move’ is Sport England's first-ever environmental and sustainability strategy.
Paddle UK has been recognised for playing an active role in responding to the challenges of extreme weather, while encouraging positive environmental behaviours.
These included developing the Paddlers' Code, facilitating the annual Big Paddle Cleanup campaign and leading action on managing invasive non-native species.
Chris Boardman, chair of the organisation, said:
“There is no doubt that our changing climate is already impacting our opportunities, motivation, and ability to be active.
“Extreme weather is increasingly making it difficult for us to live healthy active lives…
“Without change now, the Government's target to get 3.5 million more people active by 2030 is very much in jeopardy – and our children will be the ones to suffer most.”
Ben Seal, Head of Access at Paddle UK, said:
“We are delighted to see Sport England launch its ‘Every Move' strategy and look forward to playing our part in delivering the action plan.
“For water sports, the natural environment provides the places we play and stay active. Protecting these precious spaces from further decline is not just a nice thing to do, it is an absolute necessity for the future of our sport.
“Pollution in our waters, rising temperatures and increased flooding is already having a direct impact on where, when and how our community takes part.
“It is really pleasing that the new ‘Every Move strategy' recognises these threats and is setting out a vision for the sector to come together to play its part.”
In Every Move, Sport England is asking 130 system partners, including the national governing bodies of all major recognised sports in England, to have robust sustainability action plans in place by March 2027 as a condition of their funding.
Paddle UK launched our own environment and sustainability strategy in 2023.