With an estimated carbon footprint of 2 753 250 t of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂-e), the FIFA 2010 World Cup, in South Africa, would have the largest carbon footprint of any major international sporting event, and would need major interventions to achieve the ambition of leaving a positive environmental legacy.

The massive footprint was largely owing to the significant distance that many international spectators would need to travel to get to South Africa. Because of its location, almost all international visitors would need to fly to the country.

In fact, 67% of the carbon footprint (1,86-million tons) was attributed to international travel. However, excluding international travel, the 2010 FIFA World Cup was still more than eight times the size of the 2006 World Cup held in Germany.

The remaining 896 661 t of CO₂e comprised of inter-city transport; intra-city transport; stadia construction and materials; stadia and precinct energy use; and energy use in accommodation.

With funding from the Norwegian government, the ‘Feasibility study for a carbon neutral 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa', was produced by Econ Pöyry, the Nordic branch of the global consulting and engineering company Pöyry. The report authors stated that, while the proposed greening measures and environmental standards could reduce the footprint, these measures and standards would likely only affect the smaller components of it.

THE COST OF ACTION

The report also estimated that offsetting the domestic carbon footprint of the 2010 FIFA World Cup could cost between $5,4-million and $9-million, while the cost of offsetting international travel alone, would be double this amount.

The money required needs to be secured as soon as possible for some offsets projects to be under way by the time the event starts.

Securing the funds to offset emissions is still possible if the supporters of the Green Goal 2010 carbon offset programme receive 2010 FIFA World Cup-related exposure and marketing.

"For this reason, the support of FIFA and the Local Organising Committee (LOC), and their agreement that FIFA or Green Goal brand can be used for marketing by offset sponsors, is probably essential for the success of this programme. In addition, marketing a credible programme to funders, requires an institutional home with both credible skills in the carbon market and transparent, robust accounting and reporting procedures," said Econ Pöyry senior adviser Carbon and Energy Southern Africa Randall Spalding-Fecher.

"The opportunity of the 2010 World Cup to raise awareness of climate change, and sustainability challenges more broadly, among a wide range of stakeholder groups and the general public must not be missed," he emphasised.

ACTION TO DATE

In November, the LOC, together with the Department of Water and Environmental Affairs and the FIFA 2010 World Cup Host Cities, launched the national ‘Greening 2010' framework, which aimed to reduce the environmental footprint of the event.

The ‘Green Goal' logo was unveiled, and participants signed a pledge committing their support to the Green Goal initiatives, which focused on the environmental aspects of waste, energy, transport, water, biodiversity, and responsible tourism before and during the event.

The cross-cutting themes of the initiative were carbon offset and emissions reduction programmes, sustainable procurement, job creation, and communication and outreach.

Much work was also said to be being done by the larger individual host cities. The City of Durban, for example, established that its carbon footprint for the soccer event would be about 118 000 t of CO₂e, based on analysis by the same team that did the national footprint. This excludes international air travel to South Arica. Importantly, the city has committed to carbon neutrality by implementing industrial offset programmes, as well as undertaking a reforestation project.

The City of Cape Town also launched its Green Goal action plan before the national launch, in October 2008.

A concern has been raised that many of the smaller host cities might not have the resources to dedicate towards undertaking Green Goal 2010 carbon offset projects.

The study recommended that while national and local government should play a strong oversight role in the carbon offset programme, the implementation of the programme should be outsourced to a carbon offset provider using a reputable voluntary carbon market standard.

It was also noted that capturing the lessons from the study, as well as the calculation tools, for future international sporting events should become part of the legacy of 2010 for the region and for the sporting world more broadly.