Beth Mead knows all too well what it's like to be on the pitch in sweltering heat. For her, stepping out onto the Swiss training pitch at Euro 2025 was a stark reminder of the changing climate and its impact on football. The temperature was over 30 degrees Celsius, making every sprint feel like running through water.
The England camp had taken extensive precautions to prepare for the heat – everything from ice vests before training to hydration breaks and modified warm-ups. But no amount of planning could mitigate the effects of a changing climate. The air felt heavy with pressure, not just expectation or anxiety. It was as if the very conditions that make football inclusive – open spaces, shared environments – were disappearing.
For Mead, this summer's Euros felt different in ways beyond just the heat. Her role on the pitch had changed; she wasn't always starting, but she was part of what they called the finishers. She'd often found herself switching roles mid-game or dropping into midfield when needed. It was a testament to her adaptability – and one that's crucial for any team to succeed.
But this isn't just about athletes adapting to the climate; it's about communities everywhere being affected by droughts, floods, and extreme heat. Billions of people are left unprotected as less than 10% of global climate finance goes towards helping them prepare for these impacts.
Mead believes that adaptation is crucial, not about giving up but finding a way to keep going. It's about better water systems, smarter cities, stronger healthcare, and fairer access to finance for those who need it most. But there's a false choice being made – focusing on adaptation supposedly takes away from cutting emissions.
In reality, investing in adaptation is how we protect people while tackling the causes of climate change. It's not charity or compromise; it's strategy. And when it comes down to it, adaptation saves lives and drives progress. As athletes, they push their limits every day. But when the climate is pushing back, it's time for the world to step up.
As Mead puts it, if we can learn anything from sport, it's that when the odds are stacked against you, there's only one way to win: adapt. Now it's time for the world to do the same – and invest in solutions that will help people everywhere adapt to the changing climate now.
The England camp had taken extensive precautions to prepare for the heat – everything from ice vests before training to hydration breaks and modified warm-ups. But no amount of planning could mitigate the effects of a changing climate. The air felt heavy with pressure, not just expectation or anxiety. It was as if the very conditions that make football inclusive – open spaces, shared environments – were disappearing.
For Mead, this summer's Euros felt different in ways beyond just the heat. Her role on the pitch had changed; she wasn't always starting, but she was part of what they called the finishers. She'd often found herself switching roles mid-game or dropping into midfield when needed. It was a testament to her adaptability – and one that's crucial for any team to succeed.
But this isn't just about athletes adapting to the climate; it's about communities everywhere being affected by droughts, floods, and extreme heat. Billions of people are left unprotected as less than 10% of global climate finance goes towards helping them prepare for these impacts.
Mead believes that adaptation is crucial, not about giving up but finding a way to keep going. It's about better water systems, smarter cities, stronger healthcare, and fairer access to finance for those who need it most. But there's a false choice being made – focusing on adaptation supposedly takes away from cutting emissions.
In reality, investing in adaptation is how we protect people while tackling the causes of climate change. It's not charity or compromise; it's strategy. And when it comes down to it, adaptation saves lives and drives progress. As athletes, they push their limits every day. But when the climate is pushing back, it's time for the world to step up.
As Mead puts it, if we can learn anything from sport, it's that when the odds are stacked against you, there's only one way to win: adapt. Now it's time for the world to do the same – and invest in solutions that will help people everywhere adapt to the changing climate now.
. Climate change is already affecting people worldwide, let's stop playing hardball and start adapting 
. We need better water systems, smarter cities, and fair access to finance – not charity or compromise 
. Investing in adaptation saves lives and drives progress, it's time to step up 
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. Beth Mead is absolutely right, the heat and changes in climate are a harsh reminder of our world's struggles. I'm not sure how much planning can prepare you for extreme weather conditions... It's crazy to think that only 10% of global finance goes towards helping people adapt to these issues 
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. But it's easy to forget the human impact when we're so focused on winning or achieving goals. We need more leaders like her who are pushing for strategy over compromise 
. We can learn so much from athletes like Beth, who know what it means to push limits and overcome obstacles. Now let's work together to create a better future for everyone! 
I feel like we're living in a heatwave of our own making 
. People assume that if we focus on reducing emissions, everything will magically get better 
. But let's be real, some of the worst impacts of climate change are already happening 
. We need to start investing in solutions like better water systems, smarter cities, and fairer access to finance.
. I'm sure there are a lot of people who feel like giving up when faced with such daunting challenges. But Beth Mead is right - adaptation is key 
. We need to find ways to keep going, even when the odds are stacked against us. 
, adapting to climate change isn't about giving up or compromising, it's about being proactive and smart 
, investing in water systems, smarter cities, healthcare, and financial support for communities hit by droughts, floods, and extreme heat... it's basic math 
. btw, less than 10% of global climate finance is already laughable 
, we need to up our game big time 
. And don't even get me started on the fact that less than 10% of global climate finance goes towards helping people prepare for these impacts 
... but seriously, Beth Mead's words really hit home - adaptation isn't about giving up, it's about finding a way forward 
... it's about investing in solutions that can help them stay safe and healthy.
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I mean, who needs 30 degrees Celsius heat when you're trying to have a normal game? It's like they forgot that the players are human beings too 
. I'm not saying we should just sit back and let the climate dictate our lives, but come on, can't they at least provide some decent shade or something? 
️. Why should only 10% of global climate finance go to those who need it most? It's like we're all just expected to suffer in silence 
. I mean, I love a good underdog story as much as the next person, but not when it comes at the expense of our planet 
The heat is real, but what's even more real is how we're gonna save our planet. I mean, I've seen a pic of a lake in Australia that was literally empty... it's like the Earth is sweating too! 
Let's get to it and save the world... or at least our future selves. 
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. I mean, athletes like Beth Mead are already adapting their games, now its time for the rest of us to step up & do the same 
OMG I'm literally freaking out over this article!!! 
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