The issue of environmentalism in motorsport concerns all of auto racing and efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions that contribute to global warming.

Early developments saw several series and teams exploring greener technologies. The International Formula Master series planned to use a petrol–electric hybrid and regenerative braking for the 2007 season, but later announced it would not use the hybrid system and instead opted for regular fuel. Audi's diesel-powered R10 won the American Le Mans Series by a margin of almost 100 points over its nearest rivals. In the United Kingdom, British Touring Car Championship team West Surrey Racing (WSR) ran Rob Collard and Colin Turkington in ethanol-fueled MG ZSs.

New championships have been created with environmental goals central to their mission. In 2012, the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) announced it would govern a new fully electric single-seater championship, the FIA Formula E Championship, which began in September 2014. The second generation of Formula E cars was introduced at the start of the 2018–19 season. The series features multiple manufacturers, including Jaguar, Audi, Nissan, BMW, and Mahindra.

Extreme E is an international off-road racing series that places environmentalism at the forefront. The series features drivers racing the all-electric SUV Spark Odyssey 21 in remote locations chosen to highlight climate change. It also adopts legacy projects that provide environmental and social support. To reduce the carbon emissions associated with air freight, the RMS St Helena was purchased and refitted to transport all equipment and cars to each location; it also houses a laboratory for climate science research conducted en route.

In other series, Formula One's governing body, the FIA, did not address the sport's environmental impact until May 2007, when it held a discussion in Monaco during the Grand Prix. Three months earlier, the Honda Works Team had announced it would run a sponsorless car for the 2007 season. The Honda RA107 featured a livery depicting the Earth, symbolizing Honda's environmental commitment, and displayed only the Honda 'H' and Bridgestone logos. The car mostly received a cynical reception. Red Bull Racing's Mark Webber observed, "It's good Honda is going green — but there are still 35 private jets parked 20 kilometres down the road." Briggs commented, "Honda's 'Earth Car' may have attracted cynicism, but the issues it highlights are moving up motorsport's agenda."

In 2013, the FIA made plans to switch from V8 engines to turbocharged V6 engines, after the previous downgrade from V10 engines to V8 engines in 2006. In 2009, the sport introduced kinetic energy recovery systems; following a brief ban, these systems were reintroduced in 2011, and the technical regulations were further revised for 2014.

In North American motorsport, IndyCar was the first major open-wheel series to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by switching its fuel from methanol to the more environmentally friendly ethanol for the 2007 season.

In sportscar racing, both the Le Mans Series and the American Le Mans Series have made efforts to be more environmentally friendly. Audi and Peugeot produced diesel race cars—the R10 TDI and 908 HDi FAP, respectively—and both competed in the 2007 24 Hours of Le Mans, where the German manufacturer came out on top. In the British GT Championship, a diesel-powered Aston Martin DBRS9 made series history by winning at the Snetterton round. Since 2011, the top class of sports car racing, LMP1, has featured hybrid powertrains, with entries from manufacturers such as Audi, Toyota (2012), Porsche (2014) and Nissan (at Le Mans in 2014). In 2012 Drayson Racing introduced the Lola B12/69E, a modified Lola prototype chassis, and set an electric car world record in 2013. In 2019 the ACO announced Mission H24 to bring a hydrogen-powered racing car to the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2024. The Volkswagen I.D. R set several records between 2018 and 2020. In touring car and European open-wheel racing, alongside WSR's efforts, Paul O'Neill entered a privateer BTCC entry, racing a bioethanol-powered Vauxhall Astra at the Brands Hatch meeting during the 2006 season.