Sustainable Solutions Presents: The Changing Face of Sports Under Climate Change

Description

Join moderator Lama Elhatow, program coordinator and lecturer in the MS in Environmental Sciences and Policy and MS in Energy Policy and Climate programs, as she hosts a panel discussion on the critical intersection between environmental sustainability, athletic performance, and how various evolutions affect not only the athletes but everyone around them. A response to heat stress, air pollution, and unpredictable conditions calls for innovative adaptation strategies—from eco-conscious infrastructure to revised regulations—to ensure that sports remain viable, inclusive, safe, and resilient in a warming world. As seasons shorten, conditions become unpredictable, and visitor numbers decline, the need for sustainable planning and climate-resilient infrastructure is also necessary to protect the economies that sports support and the livelihoods that are tied to the sports tourism sector.

Panelists:

Rawiah Abdallah is an endurance athlete, mountaineer, and independent strategy consultant whose expeditions to some of the world's highest peaks have given her firsthand insight into how climate change is reshaping competitive and adventure sports. She brings over 18 years of experience advising governments, investors, and high-growth companies across the Middle East and North Africa, leading national transformation programs and innovation initiatives in sectors including education, tourism, entrepreneurship, and sustainability. Abdallah holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a bachelor's degree in business and mass communication from the American University in Cairo. She is also a certified coach and Enneagram practitioner.

Nikita Uberoi is a program coordinator for the Climate Crossroads Initiative at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Before transitioning to a career in climate, she competed on the professional women's tennis circuit for eight years. She holds a bachelor's degree in environmental science from Brown University and is currently pursuing a master's degree in Environmental Science and Policy program at Johns Hopkins University.

Sarah Hussein has over a decade of experience in the sustainability field. She started out in the oil and gas industry focusing on environmental compliance and carbon-reduction efforts within various operations. Her career took her to the technology world, where she led sustainability management systems and built corporate sustainability strategies from the ground up. She is now the head of environment for FIFA26, where she leads a team across the three host countries to deliver a sustainability legacy around mega sporting events in North America. She hails from Houston but currently resides in Miami where she manages the sustainability agenda from FIFA26 headquarters.

Sustainable Solutions Series Overview:

The Sustainable Solutions Speaker Series is presented by the Environmental Sciences and Policy and the Energy Policy and Climate programs at Johns Hopkins University. Each talk features scholars and practitioners working to tackle "wicked" environmental, energy, and climate problems. Speakers take us through how they leverage technology, policy, the private sector, markets, research, and field work to form innovative and lasting solutions. From water insecurity to climate adaptation, natural resource conflict to energy transitions, and food insecurity to sustainable agriculture, this series features the depth and breadth of Johns Hopkins University faculty and our greater community as we work toward a sustainable future.

Johns Hopkins Advanced Academic Programs is committed to ensuring an inclusive and accessible experience for all participants. Zoom meetings and webinars automatically provide live captioning. To request additional accessibility for this event, please email aapevents@jhu.edu.