The Middle Ground Project

A space where Agriculture, Conservation & Community meet.

Ep 4 – FrontRunners: Athletes Taking the Lead on Climate Action with Nicola Barr

Climate change is often discussed through science, politics and policy, but what role can sport play in the conversation?

In Episode 4 of The Middle Ground Project, we sat down with Nicola Barr from FrontRunners, a not-for-profit organisation that works with athletes and sporting organisations to support climate action and help communicate complex environmental issues to wider audiences.

The conversation explored how athletes can use their platforms to advocate for change, why climate impacts are increasingly affecting sport itself, and how local communities can become part of the solution.

What is FrontRunners?

FrontRunners was established to support athletes who want to speak about climate issues and create positive change through sport.

As Nicola explained:

“We are a not for profit working with athletes and sports organisations on their climate action.”

The organisation supports athletes through research, advocacy, communication and campaigns that help connect environmental issues with sporting communities.

FrontRunners was co-founded by former Wallabies captain David Pocock and Emma Pocock, who recognised the influence athletes can have when speaking on issues that matter to them.

“They really wanted to support athletes who were passionate and cared about climate change to talk about it in a way that was meaningful to their fans and their audience.”

Why Athletes Matter

Athletes often have strong connections with their communities and can reach audiences that may not engage with traditional environmental messaging.

Rather than acting as climate scientists, athletes can help translate complex issues into relatable stories and everyday actions.

Nicola discussed how sporting analogies can help explain climate action in a way that resonates with people.

“If you don’t do the work early, you are going to get shot in the foot later in the play.”

She explained that delaying action only makes challenges harder and more expensive to solve in the future.

“Every little bit counts.”

Climate Change is Already Affecting Sport

One of the key themes of the discussion was that climate change is no longer a future issue. Sporting organisations are already dealing with hotter temperatures, changing weather patterns and more frequent extreme weather events.

Nicola noted that many impacts are already unavoidable.

“We’ve already seen record temperatures.”

“We know that there are things unfortunately already kind of locked in when it comes to climate change in terms of increasing temperatures, increasing risk of extreme weather events.”

For sporting clubs and communities, this means adaptation is becoming just as important as reducing emissions.

The Role of Community Sport

While professional athletes often attract the headlines, Nicola believes local sporting clubs may be some of the most important places for climate conversations.

In regional Australia, sport brings people together from all backgrounds and creates opportunities for constructive discussion.

“Sport is such a hub for people to come together.”

FrontRunners sees community sport as a powerful platform for practical solutions, whether that involves improving energy efficiency, reducing operating costs or helping clubs become more resilient to future challenges.

Nicola highlighted examples such as solar panels on sporting facilities, which can lower costs while delivering environmental benefits.

Finding Common Ground

A major focus of The Middle Ground Project is creating conversations between people with different perspectives, and this episode was no exception.

Rather than framing climate action as an issue of division, Nicola emphasised the importance of listening, supporting communities and recognising that change affects different people in different ways.

This is particularly relevant for regional Australia, where industries such as agriculture are often at the centre of climate discussions.

“We need to make sure that we’re supporting people who that change really does affect.”

The conversation highlighted that lasting solutions are most effective when they bring people together rather than push them apart.

Looking Ahead

Whether you’re an elite athlete, a local football volunteer or simply someone who enjoys sport on the weekends, climate change will increasingly shape the environments in which we play, compete and connect.

FrontRunners is helping athletes use their voices to encourage positive action while creating space for respectful conversations across communities.

As Nicola explained, success often comes from taking the first step rather than waiting for the perfect solution.

“You need to make those small steps quickly.”

Because, just like in sport, the decisions we make today can shape the outcome tomorrow.