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b"From stadiums packed with fans, to food, beer, and waste \\u2013 pro sports can have a big carbon footprint. But could the core values of athletics \\u2014 integrity, teamwork, and commitment \\u2014 be the same values we need to tackle the climate challenge?\\n\\n\\n\\u201dDoing sports the right way is more important now than ever,\\u201d says Jim Thompson, Founder of the Positive Coaching Alliance. \\u201cWe spent a lot of time as adults trying to get kids to do certain things. What if we spend our time trying to encourage them to become the kind of people who want to do the right thing?\\u201d\\n\\n\\nThompson, whose PCA trains youth sports coaches around the country, is a newly converted climate evangelist. \\u201cOur country, the whole world is gonna need leaders \\u2013 people who do the right thing when it matters,\\u201d he says. \\u201cThat's my definition of character, when you do the right thing when it matters, and what happens in the next 10 years matters a lot.\\u201d\\n\\n\\nSo do pro athletes have a special role in getting their fans and teams to talk about climate?\\n\\n\\n\\u201cI think somebody needs to prompt the questions out of them, because I don't think most people aren\\u2019t going to just come out and just start talking about climate change,\\u201d says Dusty Baker, a special advisor with the San Francisco Giants who had a 19-year career as a hard-hitting outfielder and a 20-year career as a big-league manager. \\n\\n\\nBaker, who is also an avid bird hunter and solar power entrepreneur, admires the star athletes who do speak out on climate or other social issues, but he understands why others may be reluctant to do so. \\u201cYou spend all your life trying to get to this goal\\u201d he explains,\\u201dand you realize it's a very limited period of time and also there's somebody always trying to take your job.\\u201d\\n\\n\\nUltimately, the best agents for climate action in the sports arena might be the businesses and the customers \\u2013 that is, teams and their fans. \\n\\n\\n\\u201cThrough sport and food we have a huge opportunity to influence the world in a positive way,\\u201d says Roger McClendon, Executive Director with the Green Sports Alliance, an association of teams and venues employing sports as a vehicle to promote healthy sustainable communities throughout the world. \\n\\n\\nMcClendon previously served as the first chief sustainability officer with Yum! Brands, whose holdings include Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and KFC restaurants, where he challenged the company to run cleaner.\\n\\n\\n\\u201c[Pro teams] are businesses but they have the responsibility to serve their consumers and their consumers are fans,\\u201d he says. \\u201cWhen the fans or the customers start saying this is important to them, then usually businesses start to listen.\\n\\n\\nGuests:\\n\\nDusty Baker, Special Advisor, San Francisco Giants\\n\\nRoger McClendon, Executive Director, Green Sports Alliance \\n\\nJim Thompson, Founder, Positive Coaching Alliance.\\n\\n\\nRelated links:\\n\\nPositive Coaching Alliance\\n\\nBaker Energy Team\\n\\nGreen Sports Alliance\\n\\nNBA Green\\n\\nHow climate change is affecting outdoor skating (NHL.com)\\nSan Francisco Giants reclaim the Green Glove Award (MLB.com)\\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices"