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Outdoor sports and recreation are more than activities—they are a pathway to restore our relationship with the living world and with each other. In a century shaped by urbanisation, digital life, and multiple ecological crises, fostering respectful, reciprocal human–nature relationships is not optional; it’s foundational to healthy people, resilient communities, and thriving ecosystems. Current international assessments call for exactly this kind of shift—one that values nature’s diverse contributions to people and society, and that integrates social justice with ecological stewardship.

We therefore frame our responsibility broadly: not only reducing footprints, but also increasing positive contributions—well-being, inclusion, stewardship, and a durable culture of care for nature across Europe.

 

Our commitments (frameworks & alignment)

 

  • UNFCCC Sports for Climate Action — ENOS is a signatory to the UNFCCC Sports for Climate Action Framework. We commit to measuring and reducing our emissions, promoting climate action across our network, and advocating for systemic change consistent with Paris Agreement goals.
  • Sports for Nature Framework — We align with the Sports for Nature principles developed by IUCN with UNEP, IOC and the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, embedding biodiversity protection and nature-positive action into how sport is organised and experienced.

These frameworks help structure our plans and disclosures, and they connect ENOS to a wider community of practice advancing climate and nature action through sport.

What we do (programmes & outputs that advance responsibility)

 

1) Build evidence and shared direction

Outdoor Sports & the European Green Deal — Our position paper sets out how outdoor sports can contribute to climate, biodiversity, health and cohesion objectives, and why intersectoral approaches are essential to scale impact.

2) Driving change through innovative projects

  • SEE – Sustainability & Environmental Education in Outdoor Sports (Erasmus+) – A Europe-wide partnership that produced a practical toolkit to help leaders, guides and organisations embed environmental education and responsible behaviours in outdoor settings. outdoor-sports-network.eu+2outdoor-sports-network.eu+2
  • CONNECT (Erasmus+) – A new ENOS-powered collaboration (with EUROPARC, IMBA Europe, European Ramblers, Surfrider, Leave No Trace, Mid Sweden University) to strengthen cooperation between outdoor sport and nature conservation, and to scale practical solutions across countries. outdoor-sports-network.eu
  • ECOS N2K (Erasmus+) – Joint work to improve the management of outdoor sport in and around Natura 2000 and protected areas—reducing conflicts, protecting biodiversity, and keeping access open and safe.
  • Beyond Horizons (Erasmus+) Resources and pilots that help the sector engage disadvantaged young people, linking inclusion with time in nature and active lifestyles. outdoor-sports-network.eu

Across these initiatives our through-line is practical: equip organisations to reduce impacts, improve inclusion, and steward the places where we play.

 

Lead by example (how we run ENOS)

 

We apply our values to our own operations and events:

  • Travel & events: we prioritise lower-carbon travel (rail/other ground transport where feasible), encourage remote collaboration when appropriate, and design gatherings that minimise environmental impact.
  • Continuous improvement: we use the UNFCCC framework to guide measurement and reduction, and we support nature-positive choices in venues, catering, materials and procurement.
  • Value beyond carbon: we recognise that responsible operations also include accessibility, inclusion, and the well-being of participants and hosts.

 

Our social dimension (inclusion, access, equity)

Responsibility is social as much as environmental. We work to widen access to outdoor experiences—especially for under-represented groups—and to ensure that participation is safe, welcoming and culturally relevant. Projects like Beyond Horizons demonstrate how nature-based activity can build confidence, connection and community for young people who are often excluded from outdoor opportunities.

 

Reconnection as core impact (the bigger “why”)

The outdoors can generate powerful emotional moments—moving the body in a living landscape changes how people think and act. That is not a “nice-to-have”: it is part of a societal transition in which citizens value nature in more diverse ways and act accordingly. International science underlines that bringing multiple values of nature into decisions is essential to transformative change. Outdoor sports are a practical vehicle for that cultural shift. UNEP – UN Environment Programmefiles.ipbes.net

ENOS’ commitment to climate action: Policy Position Paper on the European Green Deal

The climate emergency is no longer disputed. As natural disasters follow one another at a global level, there is no longer any question of waiting to act. As a key European outdoor organisation, ENOS is mobilising and strongly committing itself to the greening of the outdoor sports sector. As such, the network has committed to promote and act on the sustainability agenda, through the publication of a new Policy Position Paper on the European Green Deal.

A summary of the 10 key measures of the ENOS Position Paper on the EU Green Deal

  1. Reconnecting people with nature to help increase, enhance and protect biodiversity
  2. Being green, eating green and supporting sustainable agriculture
  3. Clean energy for clean and green sports
  4. Sustainable industries, resources and equipment for outdoor sports
  5. Greening our outdoor infrastructure
  6. Be mobile, #BEACTIVE
  7. Zero pollution in our natural environment
  8. Climate action
  9. Research and innovation
  10. Investing in a green future

Other ENOS sustainability commitments

UNFCCC Charter and ENOS Expert Group on Sustainability 

In addition to positioning itself and committing itself to a European Green Deal for sport, ENOS is strongly involved in environmental protection. In addition to having signed the United Nations Climate Charter, a group of experts working on the sustainability of the organisation has been set up.

10 Good Principles for Outdoor Sports in Protected Areas 

On the occasion of the 2019 European Week of Sports, the European Network of Outdoor Sports(ENOS) and the EUROPARC Federation launched simultaneously the 10 Good Principles for Outdoor Sports in Protected Areas (PAs) during their respective Conferences. These Principles aim to promote good conduct among outdoor sports practitioners.

  • Explore our toolkits & projects → Start with the SEE Toolkit and Beyond Horizons resources.
  • Join ENOS → Be part of a European community aligning policy, research and practice for people and nature.
  • Collaborate with our Expert Groups → Help shape cross-sector solutions on inclusion, health, land-use planning, trails, tourism, tech & data, events and biodiversity.