LeBron James: What Would You Do About Climate Change?

When I think about the future, I see my kids. That’s where my mind goes first. Not about melting ice caps or weather patterns I can’t control, but about the world they’ll inherit. Climate change isn’t some distant threat—it’s already shaping the air they breathe, the neighborhoods they grow up in, and the opportunities they’ll have. As someone who built his life lifting up communities, I see this fight as an extension of that work.

##1. Do you think athletes have a responsibility to speak out on climate issues?

Absolutely. We’ve got platforms that most people can’t imagine. If I can use my voice to shine light on something bigger than basketball, then I have to. The game gave me a stage, but it’s not about me—it’s about the millions watching. When you see wildfires, floods, or communities without clean water, you realize this isn’t a partisan issue. It’s human. Athletes are part of those communities. We’ve got to lead by example, even if it’s uncomfortable.

##2. How does climate action tie into your work with the I PROMISE School?

My school isn’t just about textbooks and grades. It’s about preparing kids for the real world. That means teaching them how to think critically about challenges like climate change. We partner with local organizations to bring sustainability projects into the classroom—gardening, recycling programs, lessons on how pollution affects health. When you connect the dots between environment and well-being early, they grow up seeing this as their fight too.

##3. What’s your biggest frustration with how climate change is discussed?

People talk about it like it’s a problem for scientists or politicians alone. Meanwhile, communities like mine—black families, low-income neighborhoods—are already dealing with the effects. Polluted air, rising energy costs, extreme heat in areas with no trees. This isn’t theory. It’s reality. We need solutions that center those people. If you’re not talking about equity, you’re not serious.

##4. If you could push one climate policy, what would it be?

Investing in green jobs for underserved communities. Clean energy, retrofitting buildings, expanding public transit—these things create opportunities. Too often, “green” initiatives forget the folks who need them most. I’d link climate action to education and job training programs so my kids can grow up not just surviving, but thriving. We can’t just save the planet—we’ve got to rebuild it better.

##5. What keeps you hopeful?

Young people. Watching my kids and their friends care, organize, protest—it’s powerful. They’re not waiting for permission. They’re starting clubs, launching startups, holding leaders accountable. When I see that energy, I know the fight’s not over. It’s gonna take all of us, but I’ve seen impossible things happen on a basketball court. Real change? That’s a game we can win.

If you want to hear more from LeBron—how he connects activism to fatherhood, or what legacy means beyond the court—you can talk to him directly on HoloDream. Ask him about the moments that shaped his view on justice, or how he stays hopeful when progress feels slow. Conversations like these? They’re the first step in turning words into action.