Benefit of physical activity initiatives for climate change mitigation and adaptation

Abstract Addressing today’s public health challenges requires learning from past successes while adapting to emerging threats. Here we focus on two pressing, interconnected issues: physical inactivity and climate change. We present the Physical Activity and Climate Change (PACC) model, a conceptual framework illustrating how well-designed physical activity initiatives can simultaneously contribute to climate mitigation, support adaptation, and promote health and equity. We provide insights on Indigenous knowledge and contemporary sport, re-imagined urban design, behavioural and equity synergies, and opportunities to develop co-benefit metrics, innovative governance models and cross-sector solutions. We emphasize the need for systems-based, co-designed approaches that prioritize environmental sustainability, health equity and cultural relevance while avoiding unintended consequences. Aligning physical activity and climate change agendas is more powerful than addressing them separately, offering greater combined benefits for population and environmental health. The PACC model offers a practical foundation for advancing integrated, equitable and sustainable solutions.

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Publication Details

Journal
Nature Health
Published
2026-03-09
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s44360-026-00057-6
Citations
3
Primary Topic
Climate Change and Health Impacts
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
93.26

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article

Benefit of physical activity initiatives for climate change mitigation and adaptation

Ana Luiza Favarão Leão, Marina Romanello, Ibidun Adelekan, Ellis Ballard et al.
3 citations
Nature Health
Climate Change and Health Impacts
93.26
article

Benefit of physical activity initiatives for climate change mitigation and adaptation

Ana Luiza Favarão Leão, Marina Romanello, Ibidun Adelekan, Ellis Ballard, M. R. Pratt, Erica Hinckson, James F. Sallis, R. Hogg, Andrea Ramirez Varela, Adrian Bauman, Rodrigo Reis, Pedro C. Hallal, Ding Ding, I-Min Lee, Deborah Salvo, Ulf Ekelund, Tarik Benmarhnia, Harold W. Kohl
article en
3 citations

Abstract

Abstract Addressing today’s public health challenges requires learning from past successes while adapting to emerging threats. Here we focus on two pressing, interconnected issues: physical inactivity and climate change. We present the Physical Activity and Climate Change (PACC) model, a conceptual framework illustrating how well-designed physical activity initiatives can simultaneously contribute to climate mitigation, support adaptation, and promote health and equity. We provide insights on Indigenous knowledge and contemporary sport, re-imagined urban design, behavioural and equity synergies, and opportunities to develop co-benefit metrics, innovative governance models and cross-sector solutions. We emphasize the need for systems-based, co-designed approaches that prioritize environmental sustainability, health equity and cultural relevance while avoiding unintended consequences. Aligning physical activity and climate change agendas is more powerful than addressing them separately, offering greater combined benefits for population and environmental health. The PACC model offers a practical foundation for advancing integrated, equitable and sustainable solutions.

Nature HealthVol. 1(3)
Universidade Estadual de Londrina (BR), Brigham and Women's Hospital (US), The University of Sydney (AU), Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NO), Harvard University (US), Scripps Institution of Oceanography (US), Inserm (FR), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (US), École des Hautes Études en Santé Publique (FR), Austin Community College (US), University of Ibadan (NG), Washington University in St. Louis (US), University of California San Diego (US), Auckland University of Technology (NZ), Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail (FR), Human Longevity (United States) (US), The University of Texas Health Science Center (US), University College London (GB), Saint Louis University (US), Université de Rennes (FR), Norwegian School of Sport Sciences (NO), The University of Texas at Austin (US), Australian Catholic University (AU), The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (US)
David and Elaine Potter Foundation, Royal Society Te Apārangi, NSW Ministry of Health, Medical Research Council, National Health and Medical Research Council
Climate action
Openalex Percentile: Top 0%
Climate Change and Health Impacts
93.26
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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