Cricket for Climate is making ‘phenomenal’ strides in Australia, and the global game is joining the movement.

Pat Cummins has physically experienced how the climate emergency has changed playing conditions in cricket. Photograph: Darren England/AAP

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Pat Cummins comes off the field on a hot day

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If it rains during this year’s SCG Test it will be the eighth time in nine summers wet weather has had an impact on that match. And, as irritating as the moaning may be the sad fact is that Sydney has had more days lost to wet weather than any international venue. Even more than Manchester.

Paint splatter of an image of the Sydney Cricket Ground

The Benefit of the Doubt

Across the globe, both professional and grassroots clubs are facing the effects of the climate crisis, from soaring heatwaves to heavy rainfall.

 reported on how English cricket was attempting to be more sustainable. One year on, how is cricket across the world responding to the growing climate crisis – and what will some of the biggest roadblocks be along the way?

How is global cricket addressing the climate crisis?

Cricket Australia (CA) and Cricket for Climate have collaborated to install solar power at the National Cricket Centre (NCC) in Brisbane. This will save $50,000 in energy costs in the first year alone while reducing the amount of carbon generated by the facility by approximately 398 tonnes each year.

Based on current energy pricing, this converts close to $1 million in savings over the 20-year lifespan of the project and removing close to 8,000 tonnes of carbon.


The NCC is Australian cricket’s home of world-leading training and playing facilities accessible year-round that allow preparation in a variety of conditions, and can be used by international, national, and state teams, pathway programs and community cricket clubs.


“I’m proud Cricket Australia has partnered with Cricket for Climate as part of a broader ambition to drive positive change across cricket.

“Cricket is a quintessential part of the Australian summer – however, our game is vulnerable to climate change.”

“The partnership with Cricket Australia, State Associations, as well as local cricket clubs and councils is fundamental to achieving meaningful progress.

“We are also fortunate to have incredible industry partners such as Longi, Solis and OSW, who have generously donated 150kW of solar and inverter infrastructure and Solar Choice for their tender management across our projects to date.”

“Through their generous donations, we’ve been able to install solar power to all club projects to date at zero cost to them. We’ve learned much in the initial phase of energy upgrades `across five clubs, and that the engagement from these clubs and their councils has been amazing.

“We are looking to make further impact at scale as we look to plan a second phase of our energy upgrade program. We also want to look beyond solar and batteries for clubs and develop a blueprint for what a sustainable club of the future looks like.

“This partnership with Cricket Australia provides us with real momentum to help us achieve this.”

James Allsopp, CA Executive Manager, Community and Capability joined Australian men’s captain Pat Cummins to launch the installation at the NCC today. 

The system will provide a massive 285kW of power (nearly half of the NCC’s total energy requirements) and was made available through an initial provision of 60kW of solar panels (as well as mounting systems and inverters) through Cricket for Climate, with Cricket Australia investing $226,000 to provide the additional 220kW of capacity.

James Allsopp, CA Executive General Manager, Community and Capability

“We were delighted when Cricket for Climate approached us with an offer to provide the solar power to get the ball rolling on this project.

“We are really pleased Pat (Cummins) has taken a lead on this initiative just as he does on the field. 

Cricket for Climate have already created tangible benefits for some local clubs and its great they have been able to extend this to the NCC through a collaboration with Cricket Australia.”

“Climate change is an issue for cricket, and we are in the initial stages of our journey toward improved sustainability and improving our environmental footprint.

“Projects such as this, alongside the development this year of our Environmental
Sustainability Action Plan that will outline our emissions baseline and our roadmap for reducing them will help us create some real momentum in this area.”

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Australian Cricketers Rachael Haynes and Alyssa Healy have thrown their financial support behind the installation of 40kW of solar and two 13.5kW batteries at Sydney’s Drummoyne Oval.

Haynes and Healy today launched the installation of the two systems at the ground as part of the Cricket for Climate initiative, which was launched earlier this year by Australian Men’s Test Captain, Pat Cummins at his home ground at Penrith Cricket Club.

“I’m both excited and proud to be a part of the Cricket for Climate initiative,” said Haynes.

“There’s a great bunch of players who are involved in this, and alongside the generous support from Longi, Sungrow and One Stop Warehouse, it’s a very real and practical way for cricket to reduce its footprint and support more sustainable practices.”

Haynes Australian, New South Wales and Sydney Cricket Club teammate, Alyssa Healy says the installation also has significant benefits for the club.

“I joined the Sydney Cricket Club when I was 14, and it remains the only grade club I’ve ever played for. It has been so important to who I am as a player, so I see this initiative alongside Rachael, as a way of leaving a legacy for the Club,” says Healy.

“Not only does it make the club more sustainable, but will save a significant amount of money spent on power bills, allowing the club to redirect it back into club programs.”

The initiative has also been generously supported by the Canada Bay Council, who contributed $22,600 for the battery installation.

City of Canada Bay General Manager, John Clark says the isntallation is a landmark investment into one of Sydney’s great sporting facilities.

“Drummoyne Oval is a much-loved community sportsfield and we are proud to be collaborating with some of our country’s best athletes and the community to make it a more environmentally friendly facility,” said Clark.

“At the City of Canada Bay, we are pleased to be able to help raise awareness of the benefits of solar power in collaboration with Cricket for Climate.”

The installations at Drummoyne Oval takes the number of clubs involved in the Cricket for Climate initiative to four, alongside Pat Cummins’ contribution at Penrith Cricket Club, Josh Hazlewood at Tamworth Oval and Moises Henriques at St George District Cricket Club.

A further six installations are expected to be completed in the next few months:

Nathan Lyon – Northern District Cricket Club

Steve Smith – Sutherland District Cricket Club

Mitch Marsh – East Freemantle Cricket Club

Dave Warner – Randwick Petersham Cricket Club (Snape Park)

Marnus Labuschange – Cleveland Thornlands Cricket Club (Fitzroy St Oval)

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Australia’s leading cricketers, including Australian men’s captain Pat Cummins and women's vice-captain Rachael Haynes, have launched an initiative today to have solar panels installed at 15 local cricket clubs – a first step in unlocking the solar potential of the 4,000 clubs across Australia.

Solar Clubs is an initiative of Cricket for Climate, a new organisation inspired by Pat Cummins that is focused on driving tangible change, and tackling some of the broader climate issues facing cricket.

Pat Cummins said the Solar Clubs initiative is good for the environment and local cricket clubs, as the money they save on electricity bills can be reinvested back into resources and player development.

“I’m proud that my local club, the Penrith Cricket Club, was first up and has had solar panels installed through the Cricket for Climate initiative,” Cummins said.

“Climate scientists have warned that cricket will be among the sports hardest hit by global warming, and as players we’ve already experienced the impacts, like worsening extreme heat and having matches affected by or cancelled due to bushfire smoke. This is why we need to see urgent action to reduce emissions, the Solar Clubs initiative does this while also having an added economic benefit.”

Australian women’s cricket vice-captain and batter, Rachael Haynes, said:

“Along with Alyssa Healy, I’m really proud to be part of the formative steps taken by Cricket for Climate to address climate change in a very real and practical way,” Haynes said.

“Alyssa and I will be supporting the Sydney Cricket Club with the installation of solar systems at Drummoyne Oval. We’re both still involved with the club,so to be able to help the club cut their emissions, as well as save them money is something I’m sure we’ll be able to point to years from now as an initiative that made a very real difference.”

Australian Cricketers' Association (ACA) CEO Todd Greenberg, said:
“If players, sporting administrators and clubs work towards a common goal to put sustainability at the front of their plans, then Australian cricket has the opportunity to play its role in slowing global warming and mitigating the existential threat that cricket faces,” Mr Greenberg said.


“We’re proud that Pat is leading the charge of our players who know we need to do more to reduce our emissions and mitigate the worst aspects of climate change. Acknowledging this responsibility, the ACA has signed the UN Sport for Climate declaration, and is committed to partnering with our players to support efficient and sustainable projects, such as installing solar panels on cricket clubs across the country.” Penrith Cricket Club President, Paul Goldsmith, said:

“We’re thrilled to be part of this Cricket for Climate Solar Clubs initiative. The annual electricity bill for our club was around $17,000 per year and it’s estimated that, as well as reducing carbon emissions, this new solar system will save us more than $3,000 every year, which can be redirected into much needed resources and future focussed projects, like junior development.”

Solar Clubs is supported by partners including LONGi, Sungrow and One Stop Warehouse, who have generously donated the solar and inverter systems for the first 15 cricket clubs taking part in the initial phase of the program.

“Like all Australian athletes, we try our hardest to punch above our weight on the world stage. And with the incredible natural resources we have on hand we want to do that on climate too. Few countries in the world can match Australia’s extraordinary potential to generate renewable energy like solar and wind power - we think this is a win-win situation for our game and for the environment,” Cummins said.

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