Sports Hochi: J.League invites UK experts to host “Sustainability Conference”… First Asian team to join SPL in climate action
The J.League’s Sustainability Conference 2026 kicked off in Tokyo on the 28th. The program will feature keynote speeches by Claire Poole, founder and CEO of Sport Positive, on the topic of “What is a Sport Positive League?”, and Peter Smith, project director at Bristol City FC in the UK, on the club’s initiatives.
At the beginning of the event, J.League Chairman Yoshikazu Nonomura took the stage and said the following in his opening remarks:
▼ Chairman Nonomura’s speech (excerpt)
”The reason why the J.League is tackling the issue of climate change is because of a strong sense of crisis that the natural environment, which is the foundation of sport itself, is certainly changing in everyday life compared to the past. Not only will it mean that J.League matches cannot be held, but the environment in which children can play has also become much more limited due to the climate.
Football exists because of players, supporters, fans, and the many people around. I think it is the sport that brings together the strongest connections in the world, so I feel that if as many people as possible can become conscious of moving forward even just a little through the football network, it will become a great force that moves society.
This year is a very important season for the J.League. With the Centennial Vision League, a transition to a season that focuses on global competition will begin in the summer of 2026. Over the past two or three years, I’ve come to realize through conversations with people in the global soccer scene, especially at the top level, that leagues and clubs overseas are far more environmentally conscious. The way they approach social issues and the environment can also deepen relationships with partner companies. Traveling to Europe, I saw firsthand how they are also able to form connections with new partners. I feel that if Japan adopts a similar stance, it will ultimately increase the value of their clubs and leagues.
With this background in mind, the J.League will be participating in the Sports Positive League (SPL), the first of its kind in Asia. We hope to create a framework that will not only be about competing for rankings, but also about the kind of initiatives and awareness that are needed, and that will enable us to expand this framework horizontally.
Today, I understand that we are standing together at the starting point of this journey. I think we will have the opportunity to hear from people who are active on the front lines of the world and who have knowledge and expertise. I hope that this will be a good opportunity to make progress, even if only little by little.”
About the Sports Positive League: A system that quantifies clubs’ climate actions, allowing them to grasp progress and the direction they should aim for at a glance. Regarding the status of 12 key climate change initiatives, data is collected on the environmental performance specific to the sports world, (for example) the energy efficiency of match venues and facilities, the use of renewable energy, recycling and waste reduction efforts, the management of carbon dioxide emissions associated with the travel of fans and players, collaboration with hometowns, and the promotion of environmental education for players. A unique scoring system quantitatively analyzes the effects, calculating an overall score for each category, such as energy, waste, and transportation. By visualizing environmental initiatives and publishing scores, the system promotes the sharing of best practices and motivates clubs to pursue higher goals.
Read the original article here (JPN).
