On Earth Day, New Zealand’s Olympic excessive bounce gold medallist Hamish Kerr is headlining a brand new local weather options marketing campaign for the 2026 Diamond League season. Kerr is joined by a number of Diamond League stars and new members of Sport One, Carbon Zero (SOCZ). Launched in November 2025, SOCZ goals to determine the areas of sport with the most important carbon footprints and supply actionable options. Over 120 athletes from totally different sports activities and disciplines have joined to fight local weather change.
The pledge
In a press launchWorld Athletics launched the latest members of SOCZ. Led by Kerr, the checklist consists of American discus file holder Sam MattisNew Zealand pole vaulter Eliza McCartney and Australian race walker Rhydian Cowley.
“I spend numerous time on planes yearly—that’s simply the fact of my job,” Kerr says. “I’d fairly acknowledge that and do one thing with my platform than faux it’s not taking place.” Kerr has pledged to donate US$1 for each centimetre he clears this season. His donation purpose additionally aligns along with his excessive bounce aspirations to clear 2.46 metres, which might break the longstanding world file set by Cuba’s Javier Sotomayor in 1993.
Mattis has pledged to donate 25 cents for each metre he throws, McCartney has pledged $1 for each 200 km flown and Cowley will give 10 cents for each kilometre walked on Strava.
“Athletes have a duty to speak about local weather change and local weather motion, assist decarbonize sport, and interact sports activities followers to take and help local weather motion themselves,” Cowley says.
Sport One, Carbon Zero
SOCZ’s purpose is to focus on the most important emitters in sports activities, together with aviation, delivery, stadium supplies, and power methods. The initiative is led by impartial researchers and supported by skilled athletes. In response to its principal analysis associate, Giving Inexperienced, each $1 donated to the group prevents the emissions of a ton of carbon dioxide equal (CO2e), which is 50 instances less expensive than planting timber.
SOCZ says that athletes are pressured to journey for his or her careers, and because of this, have a big carbon footprint. It emphasizes that athletes are caught in a carbon-intensive system and that the way forward for sport could be carbon-neutral.
How you can donate
You can even donate to the athlete’s marketing campaign on the SOCZ web site as a one-time fee or by way of performance-related donations. Every athlete is predicted to share their progress all through the 2026 season on social media.
