Lisa Blair on Climate Action Now

Lisa Blair, solo sailor, author, BIA Sustainability Ambassador and climate change warrior, has achieved so much in her sailing career aboard 150-metre yacht, Climate Action Now and through her speaking engagements worldwide. Lisa is the driving force behind Climate Action Now, a project which is designed to focus on actions that can be taken towards solutions, rather than the problem itself. At SIBS 2024, Lisa spoke with Ocean about her objectives in the role of Sustainability Ambassador, her own commitment to sustainable practices on board her yacht, and her focus on raising awareness of the impact of microplastic pollution and climate change on our aquatic environment. Lisa also shares with us her plans for sailing solo and circumnavigating the Arctic – only possible because of melting ice. “Over the past decade of my career I have noticed the impact that climate change has on our environment,” she said. “The storms are more aggressive and less predictable, the absence of wildlife when years earlier those seas were brimming with life and the increased risk of collision with ice as the glaciers keep melting. These are all symptoms of climate change. What we know is that a greater awareness needs to be reached and action needs to be taken.”   lisablairsailstheworld.com Videography romanliebich.com

Partnership against plastic

Sporting greats assembled on a floating tennis court to shine the spotlight on the plastic problem and launch Adidas’ sustainable collaboration Made With Parley Ocean Plastic.

A week out from the Australian Open and floating roughly 10 kilometres off the coast above the world’s largest coral reef system, a barge that regularly travels through the Great Barrier Reef for important environmental marine construction and dive projects was transformed into a floating tennis court.

Ian Thorpe, Jess Fox, Nathan Cleary and Steph Claire Smith hit out on the floating court, promoting the adidas tennis apparel range Made With Parley Ocean Plastic, which will debut at the Australian Open in Melbourne starting 17 January 2022.

Adidas ambassador Ian Thorpe said “The design of the new Adidas Tennis range Made With Parley Ocean Plastic, is inspired by the Great Barrier Reef, so it was appropriately launched in the stunning heritage-protected Queensland marine park today to raise awareness and positive discussion around how we can help End Plastic Waste.

“Plastic is a problem that has reached unfathomable proportions: Unless we change course, there will be more plastic waste in the sea than fish by 2050. This waste is destroying the oceans.”

The Adidas tennis court surface will be fully recycled into a sports court, donated to a local Townsville school, paving the way for school kids to unite through sport and play a part in creating a more sustainable world.

adidas.com.au/parley