Serve for Sustainability: Tennis, Environmental Responsibility and Climate Action
HBKU College of Public Policy
Serve for Sustainability: Tennis, Environmental Responsibility and Climate Action
Serve for Sustainability is an engaging and action-oriented Sustainability Week activity that brings together sport, environmental awareness, and community learning through the game of tennis at the center of Doha, Sheraton Hotel Indoor Tennis courts.. Led by Dr. Evren Tok, the activity uses tennis as a creative platform to introduce participants to key sustainability themes such as responsible consumption, waste reduction, circular economy, climate action, health and well-being, and sustainable lifestyles.
The event is designed to show that sustainability is not only something we discuss in classrooms or policy spaces, but something we can experience through movement, teamwork, play, and reflection. Tennis provides a powerful metaphor for sustainability: every serve, rally, and return requires strategy, balance, responsibility, and adaptation — the same qualities needed to respond to today’s environmental and social challenges.
A special feature of the activity will be the inclusion of top tennis players in Qatar, who will join participants on court to demonstrate skills, lead short tennis challenges, and share reflections on discipline, performance, health, and environmental responsibility in sport. Their participation will add inspiration and energy to the event, connecting sustainability learning with athletic excellence and role-model engagement.
Participants will take part in short tennis-based challenges, rally games, sustainability question cards, and team-based reflection exercises. Each activity will link tennis to a specific sustainability issue, such as the environmental footprint of sports events, the reuse and recycling of tennis balls, reducing single-use plastics, sustainable transport to sporting venues, and the role of sport in promoting healthier and more sustainable communities.
The activity will also encourage participants to think about how sports facilities, universities, schools, and community organizations can design greener events. Through interactive stations and group challenges, participants will be invited to imagine what a sustainable tennis tournament could look like — from reusable water bottles and energy-efficient lighting to waste collection, public transport, inclusive participation, and circular use of materials.
By combining physical activity, expert facilitation, and the involvement of leading tennis players in Qatar, Serve for Sustainability aims to create a memorable learning experience that is both enjoyable and meaningful. The event will help participants understand that sustainability can be practiced in everyday life, including in the way we play, organize events, use resources, and engage with our communities.