Beginning Collaboration with “Sport For Smile” to Promote Climate Action in the World of Sports~Accelerating Climate Response Through the Power of Sports and Media~
“Sport For Smile Planet League” and MEDIA IS HOPE Inc. Have Established a Partnership~Accelerating Climate Response Through the Power of Sports and Media~
Sport For Smile and MEDIA IS HOPE Inc. have established a partnership and collaboration as non-profit platform organizations supporting industries with significant social influence: sports and media. We will accelerate climate change response through the power of sports and the power of the media.
The press release includes comments from MEDIA IS HOPE Inc. Co-Lead Nishida and Natori. Please take a look.
▶︎Press Release: https://www.sport4smile.com/archives/
Sport For Smile is Japan’s first platform for changing society through the power of sports. In 2021, they launched the “Sport For Smile Planet League (SFSPL),” a climate action initiative targeting top-level domestic professional sports clubs. In 2024, they initiated the Elite Program to provide intensive support to sustainability leaders in the Japanese sports industry. This program focuses on recruiting professional league division 1 clubs with the greatest fan influence, requiring either CO2 emission measurement records or commitments, with preference given to clubs that have signed the UN “Sports for Climate Action Framework.” Participating organizations receive various complimentary benefits from program partners and observer organizations, providing multi-faceted support for implementing sustainability initiatives.
▼Elite Program “Elite Eight” Participating Organizations
(Listed by UN signatory order and program participation order)
NAGOYA DIAMOND DOLPHINS (B.League)
ALVARK TOKYO (B.League)
GUNMA CRANE THUNDERS (B.League)
KASHIMA ANTLERS (J.League)
FIGHTING EAGLES NAGOYA (B.League)
TOKTO VERDY(J.League)
URAYASU D-ROCKS(League One)
HIROSHIMA DRAGONFLIES (B.League)
▼For details on the Elite Program, please visit:
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000001.000045549.html
(This press release is only in Japanese)
Through this partnership, both organizations aim to accelerate their activities by sharing cutting-edge global information in their respective fields, exchanging knowledge about platform management methods, and promoting joint initiatives between the SFSPL Elite Program and the Climate Media Initiative operated by MEDIA IS HOPE Inc.
We feel hopeful that those actions and transformation will continue to expand! Please look forward to our future collaborations!
■Sport For Smile
Japan’s first platform for changing society through the power of sports, operating with the philosophy of delivering sports to those furthest from sports. They collaborate with the United Nations, World Bank, and various alliance organizations across different sectors. In addition to the SFSPL, they also plan and manage the Sports Mentoring Program supporting children with domestic violence experiences, which received the HEROs Award in 2019. They have also implemented awareness campaigns at mega sporting events, including official side events for Tokyo 2020.
URL： https://www.sport4smile.com/
■ MEDIA IS HOPE Inc.
A non-profit organization that provides various support to strengthen climate change reporting in order to realize a society that can solve climate change. Aiming to fundamentally solve climate change, it acts as a bridge to build co-creative relationships between media, citizens, companies, and all other stakeholders. It also operates a media collaboration platform that transcends media and affiliations.
URL： https://media-is-hope.org/en
MEDIA IS HOPE Inc. also provide spaces for various stakeholders to connect and co-create, such as by hosting the Climate Change Media Symposium, where media professionals, international organizations such as the United Nations, experts, practitioners, citizens and young people discuss the type of reporting required to solve climate change, and “Let’s Make It Together! Renewable Energy Day” supported by the Ministry of the Environment.