TY - JOUR
T1 - Physical Activity as a Victim, a Perpetrator, or Part of the Solution to the Climate Crisis?
AU - Gelius, Peter
AU - Messing, Sven
AU - Tcymbal, Antonina
AU - Birkholz, Leonie
AU - Abu-Omar, Karim
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 Human Kinetics, Inc.
PY - 2024/12
Y1 - 2024/12
N2 - Humanity is facing a polycrisis, including climate change, loss of biodiversity, and economic inequalities. This commentary examines the role of physical activity (PA) research in the context of climate change, highlighting 3 perspectives: PA as a victim, as a perpetrator, and as part of the solution. The first perspective conceptualizes PA as a victim of climate change, as heat waves, extreme weather events, and high ozone levels pose a threat to health-enhancing PA and sports; adaptation strategies are needed and potentially lifesaving. The second perspective describes PA as a perpetrator to climate change due to the significant carbon footprint of some forms of PA and sport. The third perspective focuses on PA as a solution to climate change, as some forms of PA—such as active transport and urban gardening—have both individual and planetary health benefits. In addition, PA provides health benefits in extreme situations by reducing stress and maintaining health in times of crisis. Each of these 3 perspectives can guide future research in the field of PA and health.
AB - Humanity is facing a polycrisis, including climate change, loss of biodiversity, and economic inequalities. This commentary examines the role of physical activity (PA) research in the context of climate change, highlighting 3 perspectives: PA as a victim, as a perpetrator, and as part of the solution. The first perspective conceptualizes PA as a victim of climate change, as heat waves, extreme weather events, and high ozone levels pose a threat to health-enhancing PA and sports; adaptation strategies are needed and potentially lifesaving. The second perspective describes PA as a perpetrator to climate change due to the significant carbon footprint of some forms of PA and sport. The third perspective focuses on PA as a solution to climate change, as some forms of PA—such as active transport and urban gardening—have both individual and planetary health benefits. In addition, PA provides health benefits in extreme situations by reducing stress and maintaining health in times of crisis. Each of these 3 perspectives can guide future research in the field of PA and health.
KW - active transport
KW - environment
KW - sport
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85209873472&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1123/jpah.2024-0522
DO - 10.1123/jpah.2024-0522
M3 - Review article
SN - 1543-3080
VL - 21
SP - 1220
EP - 1222
JO - Journal of Physical Activity and Health
JF - Journal of Physical Activity and Health
IS - 12
ER -