The conclusion of the COP30 summit in Belém in late November 2025, following marathon negotiations that extended into Saturday sunrise, coincided with heightened scrutiny over health risks facing female football athletes due to extreme heat exposure during domestic competition schedules. Medical experts have strongly cautioned that playing under the afternoon sun subjects players to significant levels of UVA and peak UVB radiation, substantially increasing the danger of severe dehydration, acute sunburn, and long-term skin cancer risk.
This localized concern is underscored by the scheduling of the 2025 Campeonato Mineiro Feminino final on November 22nd, which commenced at 3:00 PM, a time explicitly flagged by medical professionals as detrimental amid intensifying heatwaves linked to climate change. Data from Minas Gerais, the region hosting the championship, indicates that regional temperatures have risen by 1.1ºC over the past two decades, with research comparing climate data between 2007 and 2024 suggesting heat waves have become more frequent and intense over that period.
The systemic issue within the 2025 season, which ran from September 20th to November 22nd, was evident as 17 of the 21 fixtures in the state championship began at 3:00 PM, despite prior expert advisories. Teams including América Mineiro, Araguari, Atlético Mineiro, Cruzeiro, Itabirito, and Valadares saw their athletes repeatedly compete during peak heat hours. Athletes have consistently cited television broadcasting arrangements as the primary obstacle preventing later start times, asserting that maintaining elite performance is physiologically unfeasible during the hottest part of the day.
This situation reflects a broader global challenge where player welfare contends with logistical demands, drawing parallels to discussions surrounding host cities for the 2026 World Cup facing 'extreme risk' heat conditions. While the COP30 negotiations secured a significant package to scale up climate finance and accelerate the Paris Agreement's implementation, including a pledge to triple adaptation finance by 2035, a critical gap remains in mitigating the root causes of these weather hazards due to the lack of a binding commitment on fossil fuel transition.
The scheduling conflict in Minas Gerais, where the 20th edition of the state championship concluded with Cruzeiro securing their fourth title, serves as a microcosm. It illustrates a persistent dilemma where broadcast imperatives and logistical scheduling needs are prioritized over urgent health and climate adaptation measures for the competing athletes.
