ABSTRACT
This case study is intended to provide insights into how one program of education for sustainable development has been able to leverage sport and games to help deliver Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), relating in particular to Education (SDG 4.7) and the Conservation of Biodiversity (SDG 15.5). The authors’ hope is that these insights may inspire a renewed focus on the advantages intrinsic to the use of sport and play for the delivery of environmental messages. Sport-based education for sustainable development programs offer a number of advantages over classroom-centered learning: they are fun; they promote values linked to fair play, gender equality, teamwork and health; and because they are active, they compare favorably with passive learning techniques. Using the example of Coaching Conservation—a soccer-based program in southern Africa—the authors examine how barriers to pro-environmental behavior may be overcome and discuss how a sport-based program can foster increased enthusiasm for, appreciation of, and empathy with wildlife and the natural environment, inspiring young people and helping them become ambassadors for change within their communities.
