NAME

Dr. Allen Hershkowitz

TITLE

Environmental Science and Sustainability Adviser, New York Yankees, NBA, Los Angeles Clippers, Pittsburgh Pirates, MLS

LOCATION

New York, United States

ABOUT

Dr. Allen Hershkowitz’s career spans decades of work at the intersection of science, culture, and environmental policy. Known for blending technical expertise with high-profile influence, he has helped some of the most iconic organizations in sports and entertainment adopt sustainability as a core value. His role with the Yankees is just one chapter in a career that includes groundbreaking initiatives at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), where he led visible programmes related to forestry, paper industry impacts, and waste management. His work has reshaped sustainability across the National Basketball Association (NBA), National Hockey League (NHL), Major League Baseball (MLB), and Broadway, making him a leader in the movement to leverage sports and culture for environmental advocacy.

IMPACT

• Dr. Hershkowitz was singularly instrumental in creating the environmental programs at MLB, the NBA, the NHL, MLS, the USTA, the Academy Awards, the GRAMMYs, and Broadway

• Co-founded the Green Sports Alliance to unite sports teams and leagues in environmental advocacy, promoting best practices in sustainability across the sports industry.

• Co-founded the Broadway Green Alliance to help theatres reduce their environmental impact.

• Instrumental in bringing the Yankees into the UN framework (UN Sports for Climate Action) making them the first North American team to pledge a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and become part of the Race to Zero.

• Initiated LED lighting for a 60% reduction in lighting emissions, installed a water-based cooling system, and implemented extensive recycling and compost programs.

• Designed the environmental initiatives for both the Oscars and the GRAMMY Awards, influencing the entertainment industry’s approach to sustainability.

• Named one of the 50 Most Influential People in Sports Business and 60 Most Powerful People in Sports.

CHALLENGES

According to Allen: “Integrating sustainability into established sectors like sports and entertainment presents unique challenges. In a setting like Yankee Stadium, much of the impact is behind the scenes, making it less visible to fans. Adapting infrastructure and practices while maintaining the fan experience remains an ongoing task. Single focused studies are a hallmark of western thought. They are predicated on the belief that in order to understand something you need to isolate it from other factors. This approach has substantial limits. By contrast, Eastern studies tend to examine how things interact as part of a larger system. If we’re blind to the greater context when we try to understand something, then we can never truly appreciate why things behave as they do.”

GOALS

“Our most important goal is to instigate a cultural shift in attitudes and expectations about how we relate to the planet.”

ALLEN’S ADVICE

“Learn ideas of enduring importance, combined with kindness and graciousness. There’s nothing more important than helping to alleviate human suffering. Every decision to use materials or energy must be carefully considered. There are multiple ways of knowing and scientists would benefit by engaging more of them. Knowledge and values should be coupled. We have been failing to act effectively because we don’t incorporate values and scientific knowledge together. Urgency isn’t optional when dealing with climate change.”

CONTACT

https://www.linkedin.com/in/allen-hershkowitz-ph-d-34094558/

@drhershkowitz

Main image: apardavila/Flickr