Sport4Land

Sport4Land is a global campaign by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) that brings the sports community together in the fight against land degradation, desertification and drought. 

As climate change intensifies droughts, heatwaves, and land loss, the impact is felt far beyond the playing field — affecting the food we eat, the livelihoods we depend on, and the environment we all share.

Healthy land provides nearly 95 per cent of the food we consume. It offers shelter, sustains economies and protects us from worsening droughts, floods and wildfires. Restoring land is about more than healing the planet — it’s about improving lives, ensuring food security and powering sustainable growth. 

That’s why the UNCCD launched #Sport4Land — a global movement to rally athletes and fans alike in defense of our land. Launched during the Paris 2024 Olympics, the campaign calls on athletes worldwide to score a goal for land restoration. 

The campaign features high-profile athletes and para-athletes united by a shared mission: protecting the land that sustains us all.

Key campaign moments:

• Launch at the Paris Olympics 2024, featuring Olympic athletes Asma Niang and Naomi Akakpo, and Paralympian Vladyslava Kravchenko
• Sport4Land programme at UNCCD COP16, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, December 2024, with global sports leaders
• Sport4Land Champions announcement
• Champion-led projects under the Sport4Land banner

Stay tuned and get involved! A healthy playground starts with a healthy planet — let’s show the same passion for protecting land as we do for sport. Whether you're an athlete, coach, fan, or part of the sports industry, you have a role to play.

Join the movement:

• Learn more about the Sport4Land Champions and their projects
• Access our campaign materials and use the hashtag #United4Land
• Submit your idea for engaging sports fans in land restoration

The game is on for a resilient future — let’s score a big win for land, for sport and for the planet!