For Beth Mead and the England football team, Euro 2025 was a tournament like no other. The heat was unbearable – over 30C (86F) on the pitch in Switzerland. To cope, they employed ice vests before training, hydration breaks, modified warm-ups, cryotherapy, and Slush Puppies to cool their core temperatures. Even with these measures, the tempo of the game slowed, recovery took longer, and every sprint, every tackle cost a little more.
It was clear that climate change was affecting not just the players but also the very fabric of the sport they loved. Extreme heat made it dangerous to play outside, floods washed away pitches, and droughts turned fields into dust. The conditions that had once made football an inclusive and accessible activity were disappearing.
As Mead reflected on her experience at Euro 2025, she realized that adaptation was crucial – not just for athletes but for people everywhere who are already struggling with the impacts of climate change. For her, joining Adapt2Win, a global campaign backed by over 40 athletes from different sports, was a way to raise awareness and call on world leaders to invest in climate adaptation now.
Mead's concerns were echoed at Cop30 in Brazil, where global leaders met to decide on the next decade of climate action. The president described it as a moment to turn the game around – and Mead hopes for a future where sport can still bring people together, where kids can play outdoors safely, and where talent and teamwork decide the game.
For her, adaptation is not a compromise or charity but strategy. It's how we protect people while tackling the causes of climate change. By adapting to the changing climate, we save lives and drive progress – it's time for the world to step up and learn from sport that when the odds are stacked against you, there's only one way to win: adapt.
The reality is that adaptation saves lives and drives progress. It's not a distraction from tackling emissions; it's how we protect people while we do it. As athletes, they push their limits every day – but when the climate is pushing back, it's time for the world to step up and adapt as well.
It was clear that climate change was affecting not just the players but also the very fabric of the sport they loved. Extreme heat made it dangerous to play outside, floods washed away pitches, and droughts turned fields into dust. The conditions that had once made football an inclusive and accessible activity were disappearing.
As Mead reflected on her experience at Euro 2025, she realized that adaptation was crucial – not just for athletes but for people everywhere who are already struggling with the impacts of climate change. For her, joining Adapt2Win, a global campaign backed by over 40 athletes from different sports, was a way to raise awareness and call on world leaders to invest in climate adaptation now.
Mead's concerns were echoed at Cop30 in Brazil, where global leaders met to decide on the next decade of climate action. The president described it as a moment to turn the game around – and Mead hopes for a future where sport can still bring people together, where kids can play outdoors safely, and where talent and teamwork decide the game.
For her, adaptation is not a compromise or charity but strategy. It's how we protect people while tackling the causes of climate change. By adapting to the changing climate, we save lives and drive progress – it's time for the world to step up and learn from sport that when the odds are stacked against you, there's only one way to win: adapt.
The reality is that adaptation saves lives and drives progress. It's not a distraction from tackling emissions; it's how we protect people while we do it. As athletes, they push their limits every day – but when the climate is pushing back, it's time for the world to step up and adapt as well.
. Can't people just talk about the actual game for once? 
I mean, I know climate change is a big deal and all, but do we really need to make it the main focus of every sports news article? 
And what's up with the athlete endorsements already? Beth Mead's trying to save the world one Slush Puppy at a time 
. Can't she just enjoy her victory without turning it into a climate change soapbox? 
but seriously, it's crazy how climate change is affecting football and other sports too. i mean, it's not just about the players, it's about accessibility and safety for everyone. Beth Mead is totally right, adaptation is key - not just for athletes, but for people everywhere who are already struggling with climate change.
it's time for world leaders to take action and invest in climate adaptation now. Mead's words about adaptation not being a compromise or charity but strategy are so true - we need to save lives and drive progress while tackling emissions.
athletes already push their limits every day, it's time for the world to step up and do the same. adaptation saves lives, drives progress... who's with Mead on this? 
. I mean, I get that climate change is real and we need to take action, but I don't think it's fair on the athletes who are already putting their bodies through so much strain 
. They're not just playing for themselves, they're representing their countries too! 
. Like, we get it, climate change is serious business, but can't we also support these athletes and find ways to make sports more inclusive during extreme weather conditions? I feel like they're being asked to sacrifice their own well-being for the sake of the sport 
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. It's not just about throwing money at climate change or pretending it doesn't exist – we need to take concrete steps to mitigate its effects and ensure that everyone can enjoy sports safely 
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. It's time for us to step up and support adaptation strategies that protect people and the planet at the same time 
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But seriously, climate change is a real issue here, folks. I'm not saying Mead and her teammates aren't brave for speaking out, but have they even considered the carbon footprint of all that ice and equipment? 
It's like, we're trying to save the planet while also saving ourselves from the heat? 
I mean, who knew playing football could be so brutal in Switzerland? The players were basically using Slush Puppies to stay cool – talk about adapting to a new level! On a more serious note, it's crazy how climate change is affecting the sport we love. I'm loving that Beth Mead is speaking out and joining forces with Adapt2Win – it's time for athletes to become climate leaders! 
The fact that world leaders are discussing adaptation strategies at Cop30 is amazing – it's not about finding ways to ignore the problem, but to solve it together 
... I mean, it's like, what's next? The pitch just becomes a big dust bowl or something 
. I remember watching Euro 2025 and it was so hot, even ice vests couldn't keep up 
. And Beth Mead making that point about adaptation... I'm totally with her on this 
, because when the odds are stacked against us, adaptation is literally the only way to win 
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. I mean, Beth Mead's right, adaptation is key – not just for athletes but for everyone who's struggling to cope with climate change. It's time to invest in solutions that don't just treat the symptoms, but actually tackle the problem head-on 
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i'm all for adapting to climate change but it's crazy how extreme it is affecting sports. i hope the athletes who joined Adapt2Win can help raise awareness and get world leaders to take action! 
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I'm not buying into this "adaptation is a strategy" nonsense... it's just another excuse for governments and corporations to do nothing while the environment burns 
. It's all about finding ways to adapt and make sport more inclusive again 
. As someone who loves watching footy with friends, I hate that this might become a thing where people can't enjoy the game without worrying about their safety 
. We need to step up and support climate action now