Action, not just donations: A new way to run for the planet
- Ben Lucas
- 22 hours ago
- 2 min read
What if every race could power real climate action, asks Alice Kendall, Founder of Pledge for the Planet
Pledge for the Planet was born during a marathon training run in 2019. Somewhere between the endorphins and exhaustion, running along the Thames in London while listening to Turning the Tide on Plastic, I felt a growing wave of climate anxiety, and a need to do something about it.
I’d always used running to raise money for causes I cared about. But this time, I didn’t want to raise funds. I wanted to raise action. So I created a simple form with 16 climate actions and sent it to friends and family.
Instead of donating, they committed to pledges: eating more plant-based meals, ditching single-use plastic, switching to renewable energy. My mum went vegan. My dad swapped his motorbike for an electric scooter. That’s when I realised: this works.
Introducing the action-as-currency model
Over the next few years, I built the idea into a platform so anyone could use their event –a marathon, triathlon or community challenge – to motivate climate action. In 2021, we launched the 48-Hour Mission, a virtual team challenge where your pledge is your ticket to entry. It’s now reached communities across Australia, the UK and the US.
Today, we’re building a movement that uses sport as a gateway into climate action. Because sport is about teamwork, progress and believing small steps lead to big results. Climate action should feel the same.
Why now is a great time to take stock
At Pledge for the Planet, we’re about getting people moving to protect the places we play. How lucky are we to safely run along the coast, explore bush trails and swim in the ocean?
We know that sustainability can feel overwhelming. But it doesn’t have to be. All you need to do is remember that the everyday decisions we make shape our health, our communities and the environments we move through.
Want to learn more? Come along to our Climate Action Week Sydney Events:- Run The Talk: Sustainability with TCS Sydney Marathon presented by ASICS- Run Club with Pledge for the Planet & TCS Sydney Marathon presented by ASICS
Want more expert training advice? Find the best running content to inspire you here.
