Document Type
Research Project
Publication Date
Fall 9-25-2025
Abstract
Global institutions face a critical "volume-over-impact" communication crisis, where thousands of official reports and meetings fail to translate into public engagement. This systemic issue is directly applicable to the climate sector, where conventional communication struggles to cut through the noise. This failure particularly undermines Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE), as it hinders efforts to raise awareness and provide vital climate education to the public, especially youth. To address this gap, this paper proposes the 'Athletes for Climate Empowerment (ACE) Ambassadors' Framework. Based on successful models like the UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador program, this framework provides a practical pathway to formalize and channel athlete influence into structured climate action. The framework is built on three pillars: an authenticity-focused selecting process, a robust communication support program to ensure accurate messaging, and the formal integration of ambassadors into high-level climate events like the COP. By implementing this framework, the UNFCCC and its partners can effectively transform the powerful voices of sports personalities into a unified and impactful force for global climate action.
Recommended Citation
Baalla, Abderrahim, "Athletes as ACE Ambassadors: A Framework for Integrating Sports Personalities into Climate Communication Strategies" (2025). COP30. 82.
https://buescholar.bue.edu.eg/cop30/82