Minister O'Brien announces initiative supporting sports organisations on the path to sustainability
- Published on: 20 November 2025
- Last updated on: 20 November 2025
Training programme builds on the success of the GAA's ground breaking Green Clubs Programme
Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment, Darragh O'Brien, today (20 November) launched a new Sustainable Sports Programme to help sports National Governing Bodies (NGBs) adopt environmentally sustainable actions across their organisations.
The programme includes a toolkit for clubs, and the provision of training to NGBs, so that they can empower their clubs to act at grassroots level in the areas of biodiversity, water, energy and travel. The Sustainable Sports Programme recognises that each club and organisation is unique and is suitable for all sports regardless of size, activity, facilities or means.
Welcoming the Programme, Minister O'Brien said:
"The challenges we face to achieve a climate neutral society are significant. Communities have a huge role to play in this and sport is at the heart of community here in Ireland. This training programme builds on the success of the GAA's ground breaking Green Clubs Programme and shares learnings from their vast experience.
"A key learning has been that grassroots programmes are more likely to succeed and be maintained when they are supported by the kinds of top-down structures that NGBs can implement."
The Sports Sustainability Programme will be featured at the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport's Playing for the Planet Conference which is taking place at the Sports Campus Ireland Indoor Arena today. The conference is an initiative of the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport and will showcase best practice both nationally and internationally on the role sport can play in climate action.
Speaking at the conference, Minister for Culture, Communication and Sport, Patrick O'Donovan said:
"I would like today to acknowledge the sustainability work sporting organisations all over the country are doing. The toolkit allows every national sports body to learn key skills such as identifying what to prioritise, the actions they can take in areas like travel and biodiversity and, crucially, how to implement and track these actions."
To view the toolkits visit the Sustainable Sports Programme website.
ENDS
Notes to the Editor
The Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment developed the Toolkit as part of the National Dialogue on Climate Action (NDCA). It followed consultation with sporting bodies including the GAA, IRFU, FAI, Athletics Ireland, Golf Ireland, Tennis Ireland and drew on learnings from initiatives such as the GAA's Green Clubs programme.
After completing the three module course, participants will be the contact point for using the Toolkit in their organisations. They will get an understanding of the Toolkit and its potential for taking climate action in the areas of energy, water, biodiversity and travel, and also learn how to develop a draft action plan for successfully introducing these actions into their clubs and grassroots organisation.
Individual Sports organisations have inspiring stories to tell about their sustainability experiences.
Contact the following for further details:
- Jimmy D’Arcy, Youth Leadership & Sustainability Manager, GAA – jimmy.darcy@gaa.ie
- Míde Ní Shúilleabháin, Sustainability Adviser, GAA Green Club Programme – mide.nishuilleabhain@gaa.ie
- David Keane, National Rugby Development Manager, Irish Rugby Football Union – david.keane@irfu.ie
- Roger Geraghty, Head of Development, Tennis Ireland – roger.geraghty@tennisireland.ie
- Ann Courtney, Head of Sustainability, Golf Ireland – anncourtney@golfireland.ie
- Des Tomlinson – Social and Environmental Sustainability Manager, FAI – des.tomlinson@fai.ie
Over 230 GAA, LGFA and Camogie Association Clubs took part in the first two phases of the GAA’s Green Clubs Programme which ran from 2021 to 2025. The Green Clubs programme originated in the Sustainable Development Goals Champions Programme launched by the Department of Climate Energy and the Environment in 2019. Phase 3 launched in March 2025 and approximately 200 further clubs will take part. According to the GAA, the levels of engagement demonstrates the appetite among Gaelic games clubs to improve their sustainability and build resilience in response to climate change.
Case studies are available at: www.learning.gaa.ie/GreenClub/CaseStudies.