Scoring the Next Century: A Climate and Nature Action Plan for Cricket
Click on the image to view a summary of the plan (full plan on our Resources page)
Cricket is uniquely vulnerable to the impacts of a changing climate. From Mumbai to Manchester, Melbourne to Multan, players and fans are seeing the game they love change in front of their eyes due to extreme heat, unprecedented rainfall, drought, wildfires, flooding and hurricanes.
A response is urgently required. In collaboration with Gloucestershire County Cricket Club and the Bristol Climate & Nature Partnership, with support from the National Lottery Community Fund, we are excited to announce the launch of our climate action plan - "Scoring the Next Century: A Climate and Nature Plan for Cricket".
This new Community Climate Action Plan is the first of its kind in UK cricket. Built through months of conversations with fans, players, coaches, and club volunteers across Bristol and the South West, it lays out a hopeful and practical path forward. While the climate crisis poses serious challenges, this plan focuses on the power of cricket communities to be part of the solution, starting with actions that are already under way.
Cricket’s Climate Challenge
For cricket clubs big and small, the climate crisis is no longer a distant threat, it’s happening now. Extreme weather - too wet, too hot, too dry, is forcing clubs to cancel games or even move grounds (see Worcestershire and New Road). And yet, as the plan shows, the cricket community is not standing still.
The good news? Many clubs are already making changes that are beneficial for nature, the planet and their pocket. Willing volunteers are planting trees, installing bird and bat boxes, and setting aside wild spaces to encourage biodiversity. Others are reducing water use, switching to electric grounds equipment, and installing solar panels. Some have gone further still, growing food for the local community, hosting environmental events, or serving as hubs for food distribution. These inspiring actions are not just good practice, they’re leading the way.
England Star, Maia Bouchier has lent her support to the plan
Less Travel, More Cricket
One of the most celebrated solutions has come from the Bristol & District Cricket Association, which recently regionalised the lower leagues. The aim? To make cricket more accessible by reducing long journeys for players and parents. The result? Fewer car trips, more games played, and a dramatic drop in average travel time; from 45 minutes to under 20. This is exactly the kind of win-win solution the new climate action plan aims to champion and scale.
The dedicated volunteers who run the Bristol & District Cricket Association
Greener Grounds
Gloucestershire County Cricket Club itself is making moves to reduce its environmental footprint. Alongside cutting waste and improving recycling, the club is exploring how to generate renewable energy, retrofit its buildings, and embed sustainability into daily operations.
Meanwhile, grassroots clubs are starting to think of their grounds as more than just playing surfaces. Many are already creating nature corridors, adding swift boxes and pollinator gardens, and inviting school children to watch butterflies and birds return to their grounds. In doing so, they’re helping biodiversity flourish while deepening connections with local communities.
The outdoor classroom at Valley End CC in Surrey
From the Grassroots to Test Arenas
The strength of this plan lies in its inclusivity. It’s not just about elite clubs, it’s about everyone. From village greens, to inner-city council pitches, and all the way to Lord’s, every club has a role to play.
“This plan is a starting point, a jogged single early in the innings.” said Tanya Aldred, chair of The Next Test. “We hope that it will grow alongside the aspirations of cricket lovers, in the face of the undoubted challenges ahead. Ours is a game of resilience, of impossible comebacks and hope against the odds. We must embrace all these to empower the cricket community to reshape our future.”
Get involved
The full plan is available now at www.thenexttest.org/resources. It offers a range of simple, easy to implement ideas and actions, along with real-life stories to inspire clubs across the country and beyond.
If you’re involved in cricket - whether you’re a club chair, coach, fan, or groundskeeper -this is your invitation to get involved. Start a conversation. Share your successes. Try something new. The climate crisis can feel overwhelming, but this plan shows that every action, no matter how small, can help build a more sustainable game for future generations.
The Next Test are building a community of cricket lovers who are committed to taking positive climate action.
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