Felt Needs of Physical Activity Professionals in Response to Climate Change: Challenges, Competencies, and Educational Strategies

Background: Climate change increasingly affects the conditions under which physical activity is practiced, posing new ethical, environmental, and practical challenges for physical activity professionals. This study examined physical activity professionals’ felt needs related to climate change, as expressed through lived professional challenges and dilemmas, and explored key competencies and educational strategies for training.Methods: A qualitative design was employed. Fifteen (7 females) physical activity professionals practicing in the province of Québec, Canada, participated online in (i) a 1h Climate Fresk game, a gamified collaborative workshop on climate change, followed by (ii) a ~45 min focus group. Thematic analysis was conducted following a structured six-phase analytical framework. Results: The physical activity professionals were French speaking; 80% of them had been practicing for ≥5 years in the public (n=5, 33%) or the private (n=10, 67%) sector. Eight key themes emerged, categorized into three overarching sections: (1) barriers and dilemmas in practice, (2) required competencies to adapt practice, and (3) educational design and delivery strategies. Physical activity professionals identified environmental and logistical constraints, ethical and safety concerns, and social pressures as key barriers affecting their ability to promote safe practice. They emphasized the need for climate-specific knowledge, adaptive and communication skills, and supportive, non-judgmental attitudes. Educational recommendations centred on the behaviour-oriented, and reflective learning approaches, encouraging both professional adaptability and environmental responsibility. Conclusion: These findings offer a guide for integrating climate change–related competencies and pedagogical approaches into physical activity professionals’ education and training programs to support climate-resilient physical activity practice.