Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
World Aquatics has introduced a Sustainability Strategy, known as the Blueprint, highlighting the organization’s commitment to minimizing environmental impact, promoting social responsibility, and integrating sustainability into its global operations. Grounded in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the strategy aims to inspire sustainable development through aquatic sports. It is built on three pillars—Organisation, Events, and Community—and sets out 57 time-bound targets for embedding sustainability at every level of World Aquatics’ activities.
The climate crisis brings substantial risks to aquatic sports, such as rising water temperatures, changing water levels, extreme weather events, water scarcity, and pollution. These issues threaten venues, training facilities, and increase drowning risks for athletes and communities. World Aquatics President Husain Al Musallam emphasized the global connection through water, underscoring the importance of sustaining aquatic ecosystems for people and nature.
The Blueprint outlines opportunities for stakeholder engagement to foster innovation in infrastructure, circular resource use, renewable energy, inclusivity, and community involvement. Recognizing that sustainability demands collective action, World Aquatics has invited its Member Federations to adopt a Community Sustainability Declaration, committing them to principles of environmental stewardship, social responsibility, governance, and ongoing improvement. The declaration encourages leadership integration of sustainability, reducing environmental impact, promoting inclusion, organizing greener events, and increasing sustainability awareness among athletes and staff. The document is intended to evolve with shared learning and collaborative goals.