Game Changer: Sofie Junge Pedersen Brings Climate Action to the Forefront Ahead of the Women's World Cup

Sofie Junge Pedersen has consistently taken action in the past five years, meticulously calculating the carbon emissions resulting from her flights and making efforts to offset them. On this occasion, Pedersen will be joined by a group of 44 elite players from four nations who have pledged to take responsibility for the environmental consequences of their travel to and from the 2023 Women's World Cup hosted in Australia and New Zealand.

The players are contributing funds towards a blend of initiatives aimed at bolstering climate resilience and offsetting carbon emissions. While recognizing the transient nature of their efforts, they aspire for their actions to generate momentum and foster substantial and lasting transformations.

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Midfielder Sofie Junge Pedersen in action for Denmark against Brazil

"We need to acknowledge that we are not without flaws," states Pedersen to We. "I believe no one in our region can advocate for climate change and the shift towards a greener future if they are expected to be completely carbon neutral. None of us in our region are.

"However, we must still show appreciation for all climate-conscious efforts. It is a crucial undertaking. Our aim is to motivate and inspire individuals."

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Pedersen's dedication to athlete activism is truly commendable. In addition to carefully monitoring her carbon footprint, she actively supports organizations that promote reforestation and solar panel installations in environmentally vulnerable nations. Moreover, she follows a dairy-free diet, prioritizes purchasing recycled clothing, and invests in sustainable businesses.

Pedersen's decision to expand her efforts came after engaging in discussions with both her club and international teammates. The presentations she delivered to the Juventus and Denmark squads served as a catalyst for the most significant player-driven climate action ever witnessed in football.

"For many years, I have been acutely aware of the impacts of climate change," Pedersen expresses. "I conducted these presentations for my teammates to provide an understanding of the current situation, its repercussions, and the various actions we can take to address it, as they had expressed curiosity."

The positive response from Pedersen's colleagues provided encouragement for him to take further action. "I had discussed the significant pollution caused by air travel. Given our trip to the World Cup, I believed that more individuals would be interested in making a positive impact on a larger platform.

"I introduced the concept of offsetting our flights as a way to counterbalance the environmental impact, merely to gauge people's reactions. To my surprise, they were extremely supportive. 'This is something we can definitely pursue.' With such immense support, I embarked on developing this campaign."

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Sofie Junge Pedersen is getting ready to participate in the upcoming Women's World Cup this summer. In addition to answering phone calls personally, Pedersen has relied on her connections as a member of Common Goal, a donation-driven initiative started by Juan Mata in 2017, and as an advocate for Football For Future.

Having the support of these experts was crucial to me. We have had numerous meetings, specifically online meetings, to determine the optimal way to accomplish this task and identify suitable projects for players to back. Our initial step was to reach out to players who expressed interest in the climate.

Over the past few months, we have actively expanded our outreach efforts, and the response from an abundance of players has been truly astonishing. We continue to welcome more participants as the campaign is launched, as it would be fantastic to have more individuals involved.

High-profile advocates encompass Jessie Fleming from Canada and Elena Linari from Italy. The selected charitable organizations prioritize the restoration of landslides in recognized koala habitats in Australia, the rehabilitation of coastal habitats in New Zealand, and an endeavor to plant trees in Uganda.

"This isn't the ideal long-term solution. We require flights to be sustainable and environmentally friendly. Nonetheless, numerous parties concerned about climate change are involved, and I anticipate that this campaign will shed light on the pollution caused by air travel."

With the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris next year and the men's World Cup in North America in 2026 expected to have the highest carbon emissions ever seen in the sport's history, the expectation is that the efforts made this summer will pave the way for even greater commitments in the future.

Pedersen emphasizes the utmost importance of preventing emissions from occurring in the first place. Merely offsetting them is not enough to address the issue adequately. The key focus should be on driving the transition towards sustainability to effectively combat climate change.

However, nations should prioritize sustainability when bidding for tournaments. This is a crucial message that I hope we can learn from.

Nevertheless, before any of that, we must focus on the upcoming World Cup. At the age of 31, Pedersen, who has experienced three European Championships with Denmark, cannot wait any longer for her first opportunity to participate in the tournament. "The Euros are significant, but I anticipate this to be even more significant," she expresses.

The fact that this event will reach numerous women and girls worldwide holds significant value to me. I am not only playing for my personal happiness but also for the potential joy it may bring to many others across the globe.

Following the match against China, England awaits our team in Sydney, which I anticipate will be an exceptional game. However, our aspirations extend beyond the group stage. The round of 16 marks the initial phase, and from there, we approach each game step by step. We have faith in ourselves and firmly believe we have the potential to go far in this tournament.

Contact Football For Future or Common Goal if players or other World Cup stakeholders are interested in learning more about taking climate action. Sofie Junge Pedersen also has aspirations beyond just football.