The Football Association of Wales were part of the climate crisis and environmental footprint conversation at the ACCESS conference, held in Dublin.
Hosted by the The Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), at Croke Park, the conference focused on the intersection of sustainability in sports and community engagement.
Held under the theme “Activating the Sports Sector for Sustainability,” the event brought together a diverse array of participants and speakers for a day of motivation and inspiration.
Representatives from the FAW joined counterparts from the Irish sports sector, government officials, community leaders, climate stakeholders, and practitioners from both Ireland and abroad. This gathering provided a platform to address the challenges posed by the climate crisis on sports and how communities can collaborate to enhance the sustainability of sports organisations while reducing their environmental footprint.
The conference marked the third local dissemination event of the ACCESS project, following similar gatherings in Pisa and Porto. It coincided with the launch of the Community Engagement and Outreach phase of the project, emphasising the importance of community mobilisation in achieving sustainability goals.
Jimmy D’Arcy from the GAA’s Community and Health department facilitated the event which featured insights from Ernest Kovacs, a project manager at ACR+ and coordinator of the ACCESS project, Seán McCabe, Climate Justice and Sustainability Officer at Bohemian FC and a Q&A session with leading practitioners and experts in community engagement and the circular economy to address key challenges and share insights.
Audience members expressed a desire to capitalise on the momentum generated by the conference, highlighting the potential for collaboration and knowledge-sharing among sports organisations.
FAW Head of Public Affairs & Sustainability Helen Antoniazzi said: “We’re committed to playing our part in creating a more sustainable and healthier future.
“Football clubs sit at the heart of every community across Cymru, and we know that they have huge potential to create positive change.
“It was inspiring to learn how the GAA are working with their clubs in Ireland to empower them to support their local communities to become greener and healthier and it has given us lots of positive ideas as we progress on our own sustainability journey.”
For more information about the ACCESS project and future events, visit the ACCESS project website.
