As part of EU Green Week 2026, SIGA – the Sport Integrity Global Alliance – called on the global sports industry to move beyond declarations and embrace measurable accountability on sustainability. In a digital keynote address, Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros, SIGA’s global CEO, argued that sustainability can no longer be treated as a peripheral issue for Sport, stressing that it is fundamentally a Sport Integrity issue.
“The world does not need another speech about sustainability. It needs courage, leadership and accountability. Sustainability in Sport is not a communication exercise. It is a governance issue, an investment issue, a human rights issue and, above all, a Sport Integrity issue.”
Highlighting the risks posed by greenwashing and the lack of credible assessment mechanisms, the SIGA Global CEO stressed that Sport has both a responsibility and an opportunity to contribute to a more sustainable future.
Macedo de Medeiros also reaffirmed SIGA’s commitment to placing sustainability at the heart of the Sport Integrity agenda through SIGA EARTH, including the establishment of a Permanent Committee on Social and Environmental Sustainability in Sport and the development of Universal Standards on Social and Environmental Sustainability in Sport.
These efforts will be advanced through the SIGA EARTH Global Consultation Forum, which will bring together stakeholders and experts from across the world to contribute to the development of a global framework for integrity-based sustainability in Sport.
Throughout his address, Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros emphasised that credibility and accountability must become the defining principles of sustainability efforts in Sport.
“Sustainability without integrity is theatre. Climate action without accountability is theatre. The future will increasingly belong to those who can demonstrate their integrity, not merely proclaim it.”
Concluding his remarks, the SIGA Global CEO challenged stakeholders across sport, government and business to engage in the consultation process and help shape the future standards.
“Let this EU Green Week not be remembered as another week of speeches. Let this month mark the beginning of a new global standard for sport. From commitments to accountability. From sustainability to integrity.”
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ABOUT SIGA
SIGA is the world’s leading organisation for Sport Integrity. We are creating a whole new landscape for the sports industry by delivering independent global rating and certification for world Sport to ensure it is governed and operates under the highest integrity standards: The SIGA Universal Standards.
Funded by our Members, SIGA is a non for profit global independent organisation with one aim: To ensure the sport industry is governed under the highest integrity standards so that the values of sport are protected.
SIGA is the only organisation to bring together sport, governments, academia, international organisations, sponsors, business, rights holders, NGOs and professional services companies, from every region in the world, around a common cause of fostering greater integrity throughout sport.
SIGA is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, as a non for-profit association, and comprises of the following continental subsidiaries: SIGA AMERICA, SIGA EUROPE and SIGA LATIN AMERICA.
For more information on SIGA, including its vision, mission and reform agenda, please refer to the website: www.siga-sport.com and FAQs.
To contact SIGA, please email: comms@siga-sport.com.