Sports and the natural environment: a scoping review

Research question Mirroring the public’s increasing interest in the bidirectional relationship between sport and the natural environment, research on sport ecology has attracted considerable attention lately while the field’s full scope remains unexplored. We address this gap by answering the question of which impact categories define the bilateral relationship and by examining the field in terms of the volume, variety, and characteristics of its underlying research.Research methods We apply the established Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) approach and a new Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) rule mandating public companies to disclose a range of climate-related information to structure 443 manuscripts. Additionally, we examine bibliographic and methodological patterns to highlight knowledge gaps and explore directions for future research.Results and Findings We differentiate between physical and transition impacts of sports on the environment and vice versa, distinguishing between 19 impact categories. In summary, most authors explore the impacts of sports on the environment, such as through carbon footprint assessments or examining an event’s contribution to air pollution. Further, we note a significant interest in North America, particularly in the U.S., and in international sports events (ISEs), while quantitative research methods dominate.Implications In our review, we establish a common foundation for academia and business practice. To further advance this foundation, future research should address underrepresented topics, e.g. environmental impacts of sports regarding water and effluents, examine settings beyond North America and ISEs, and incorporate transdisciplinary research designs bridging academic and practical perspectives.