The EU has set ambitious goals to promote sustainability and combat climate change, as outlined in the European Green Deal. The European Green Deal Communication recognises the key role of education and training institutions in engaging with young learners, parents, and the wider community on the changes needed for a successful transition to become climate neutral by 2050. In addition, the Council recommendation on learning for the green transition emphasises the need to provide learners of all ages with opportunities to find out about the climate crisis and sustainability in both formal and non-formal education and to make learning for the green transition a priority in education and training policies and programs. The Erasmus+ Programme, which is the EU's funding programme for education, training, youth, and sport, recognises the importance of environmental sustainability in the sports sector and supports projects that aim to promote sustainable practises and raise awareness about environmental issues.

The sports sector itself has a significant impact on the environment, with some estimates suggesting that it is responsible for up to 4% of global carbon emissions. As such, it is essential that the sector takes action to promote sustainability and combat climate change. The tennis industry is not an exception to this important environmental effect. The entire tennis ecosystem (including national training centres, tennis events at the junior and senior levels, and grassroots tennis clubs) needs an innovative perspective and concept that benefits both people and the environment in order to maximise its relevance and assume its responsibility in creating a more sustainable Europe. By promoting sustainability in the tennis sector, we can contribute to these broader goals while also enhancing the sustainability of the sector itself.

Our project, "Tennis for a Greener Future" (GreenTennis), is a cooperation partnerships project under Erasmus+ Key Action 2, which aims to increase the environmental sustainability of National Tennis Centres (NTCs) and events by providing training and support to NTCs and their staff on topics such as sustainable transportation, sustainable food options, and waste reduction. GreenTennis also aims to raise awareness about the impacts of climate change on tennis and encourage young players, coaches, and the wider community, including grassroots clubs, parents, and fans, to take actions to reduce their carbon footprint.