Climate change is having an impact on athletes all over the world, and Nike is working on solutions to help protect the planet—starting with giving all communities a fair opportunity at an equitable future of sport. Nike's Community Climate Resilience Programme begins with a two-year, $2 million grant to the Trust for Public Land.

The grant will fund projects that work to accomplish a major goal: advance climate resilience in communities disproportionally impacted by climate threats. Its method: creating and cultivating public green spaces.

Green spaces are crucial in mitigating the effects of urban heat islands and flooding, which are exacerbated in the most vulnerable and underprivileged communities.

Parks can be up to 17 degrees cooler than nearby cityscapes. Parks can also help disperse storms and groundwater, reducing the impact of natural catastrophes caused by climate change and increasing water quality.

However, parks in communities of colour in the United States are frequently half the size, of inferior quality, and, in many cases, more prone to flooding than parks in white neighbourhoods.

The programme will begin with a focus on places in the United States where Nike employees live, work, and play, including Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago. The first stage of funds will be used to transform asphalt and concrete schoolyards into recreational places and create and maintain parks and trails.

Nike is investing in a more inclusive future for all through the Community Climate Resilience Programme. The collaboration with Trust for Public Land and community nonprofit groups is based on Nike's global Made To Play commitment to getting kids moving while working with local partners to enhance kids' engagement in sport, particularly in underserved regions.

The programme expands on existing funding, such as the Inclusive Community Investment Programme and the Nike, Jordan, and Converse brands' multi-year $40 million commitment to support the Black community in the United States. Michael Jordan and the Jordan Brand will also donate more than $100 million to organisations dedicated to advancing racial equality, social justice, and broader access to education over the next ten years.

Source: Nike

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