Small actions can lead to lasting change for paddle sport and the environment, as evidenced by the International Canoe Federation’s Sustainability and the Future of Paddle Sport webinar series.
In the first webinar of the series focused on Asia, the stories shared by India’s Bilquis Mir, who served as an International Technical Official at the Paralympic Games Paris 2024 and Philippine Canoe and Kayak Federation (PCKF) President Leonora Escollante showed the power of paddle sport in building a sustainable future.
The webinar led by ICF Vice President Dr Cecilia Farias and sustainability strategist and Touchline Earth Founder and Managing Director Matthew Campelli saw athletes and administrators share an interactive Q&A, showcasing increased interest.
For Mir, what started as a search for a place to train became a transformation project as she stumbled upon the Pokhribal Lake in Srinagar.
Mir gathered around 20 athletes to start the restoration and clean-up mission, with local schools and residents all chipping in, embedding the idea that sports, sustainability, and environment are interconnected.
What started small later became a powerful initiative, including using aquatic weed harvesters and the formal involvement of the Jammu and Kashmir lake conservation authority.
From pollution to purpose, as Mir put it, Pokhribal is now a vibrant waterfront used for kayaking, canoeing, rowing, training, youth programmes, recreation and more.
Escollante, who firmly believes that sustainability is central to the future of paddle sport, is proud of the global movement she and the community started in the Philippines.
As the city of Puerto Princesa hosted the 2024 ICF Dragon Boat World Championships, there was a massive focus on the environment.
To raise awareness about climate change and promote sustainable practices, the Paddle Together for Climate Action campaign was launched with a handful of athletes.
Now, there are city-wide clean-ups and educational activities, with the numbers increasing, illustrating momentum and community buy‑in.
With support from the city and Puerto Princesa Mayor Lucilo Rodriguez Bayron, around 250 athletes were part of the initiative in 2024.
As the word spread, more than 1200 of them joined, positioning paddle sport as an ambassador of climate action in the country.
“People like to see examples of others’ actions. To have two women presenting was great, showing their capabilities in all different areas. To work on sustainability is not just about the environment, but also about a better sense of cooperation and community service,” Farias said.
“As Matthew also said, it is about creating a credible platform to showcase climate responsibility. It’s crucial to liaise with local authorities so projects get more support.
“The projects in India and the Philippines show us that when paddlers start now and start small, everything else can fall into place.
“By turning polluted water bodies into a thriving training venue, this community proves that every clean‑up, every young paddler, and every local partnership brings us closer to a future where protecting our waters is simply part of how we practice our sport.
“The first of our Sustainability and the Future of Paddle Sport webinar series was a huge success. The ICF has made it a point to make sustainability a core part of all our activities. This is only the beginning. Thank you all for your efforts.”
ICF President Thomas Konietzko, who was also in attendance, praised the participants and their efforts before reiterating the International Federation’s commitment towards sustainability.
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