Breaking the Doom Loop:How Sport England’s Every Move Initiative Aims to Transform Physical Activity

Sport England has recently launched Every Move, a bold response to the growing challenges that climate change presents to physical activity. This programme seeks to “break the doom loop”—a cycle where climate change hinders participation in sports, leading to decreased physical activity and worsening health outcomes.  

The Every Move initiative is designed to help communities and individuals overcome these barriers by promoting sustainable practices and supporting adaptations that make physical activity accessible to everyone, regardless of environmental conditions. 

The Problem: The Doom Loop of Physical Inactivity 

The “doom loop” refers to a vicious cycle where environmental factors, such as extreme weather events driven by climate change, reduce opportunities for outdoor physical activity. This, in turn, leads to decreased health and well-being, further reducing the likelihood of individuals engaging in regular exercise. Over time, this cycle can contribute to a growing public health crisis, with more people leading sedentary lifestyles due to the lack of accessible, safe and enjoyable ways to stay active. 

The Solution: Every Move Initiative 

Sport England’s “Every Move” initiative aims to break this loop by fostering resilience in communities and creating environments that encourage physical activity, regardless of the external challenges posed by climate change. The initiative emphasises the importance of sustainability in sports and physical activities, encouraging the use of green spaces, promoting active transportation like walking and cycling, and supporting the development of facilities that are less susceptible to extreme weather conditions. 

Sport England chair, Chris Boardman, told the Youth Sport Trust: “There is no doubt that our changing climate is already impacting our opportunities, motivation and ability to be active. 

“Extreme weather is increasingly making it difficult for us to live healthy, active lives by creating a ‘doom loop’ where people become less motivated and more fearful of injury, with sporting opportunities increasingly cancelled and disrupted. 

“Without change now, the government’s target to get 3.5 million more people active by 2030 is very much in jeopardy – and our children will be the ones to suffer most.” 

Every Move’s Key Strategies 

Sustainability in Sports Infrastructure: Investing in infrastructure that can withstand climate challenges, such as flood-resistant sports fields and indoor facilities designed for year-round use, ensuring that opportunities for physical activity are not lost due to environmental factors.

Community Engagement: Empowering local communities to take charge of their physical activity environments by providing resources and support for grassroots initiatives. This includes creating safe and accessible spaces for everyone, from children to the elderly, to engage in physical activity.

Promoting Active Lifestyles: Encouraging individuals to integrate physical activity into their daily routines through active commuting, like walking or cycling, and the use of local green spaces for exercise.

Changing the Score 

The Every Move initiative is more than just a response to climate change; it represents a shift towards a more sustainable and resilient approach to physical activity in the UK. By addressing the root causes of the “doom loop,” Sport England aims to create a future where everyone, regardless of their circumstances, can lead an active and healthy life.

Through these efforts and those like them, not only can we mitigate the impact of climate change on physical activity but also to inspire a cultural shift towards sustainability and resilience in sports and recreation.  

At Sport Impact Summit, we’re aiming to empower other sporting bodies so they too can break the doom loop. Together we can support public health and contribute to broader environmental goals, creating a win-win situation for communities across the globe. 

For further details on Every Move and how it’s being implemented, you can visit the Youth Sport Trust’s official page. 

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