Green World Cup

Eleven teams have announced they will offset the emissions caused by their participation in the event

A major initiative to green the World Cup and help reduce carbon emissions was launched in Johannesburg, just three days before the kick-off .

The initiative is a result of a partnership between the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the South African Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA).

The initiative includes three major greening projects: renewable energy interventions in six World Cup host cities, an awareness-raising drive on green tourism both funded by GEF, and a UNEP programme to offset the carbon emissions of eleven World Cup teams.

The  Green Passport project  aims to encourage visitors to make responsible travel choices whilst visiting South Africa for the FIFA 2010 World Cup. The ‘Passport’ – a 32-page booklet packed with greening tips and information on responsible tourism in each host city – will be distributed to 100,000 World Cup spectators. (www.greenpassport. co.za)

Under the initiative’s umbrella, eleven teams have announced they will offset the emissions caused by their participation in the event. The teams, whose offset is sponsored by PUMA, are: Algeria, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Uruguay, Italy and Switzerland. Meanwhile, Chile, England, Republic of Korea and Serbia have also committed to offsetting their emissions, and UNEP hopes more countries will follow suit by the start of the tournament on 11 June.

The teams’ carbon footprint includes international flights to and from South Africa, domestic flights and coaches to and from group matches for teams and officials, and accommodation in hotels – a total of approximately 6,050 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.

The greening project, entitled "Reducing the Carbon Footprint of Major Sporting Events, FIFA 2010 and the Green Goal", aims to leave a lasting legacy that will be continued by the city municipalities post the tournament to save energy consumption by adopting renewable energy and energy efficiency practices as illustrated by solar retro-fits. This project forms part of the South African government’s National Greening Framework.

Supported by US$1 million in GEF funding, one major project is the greening of public street lights, traffic lights and billboards around the stadiums of six host cities – City of Tshwane (Pretoria), Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality (Port Elizabeth), Polokwane Local Municipality, Rustenburg Local Municipality and Manguang Local Municipality (Bloemfontein). Twelve billboards – two in each city – will switch to solar power, along with 60 traffic lights and 78 streetlights across the six host cities.

The Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) in South Africa, in liaison with the Departments of Energy, Department of Tourism, Central Energy Fund, Eskom and the Local Organizing Committee, has identified five carbon offset projects in order to assist towards offsetting travelers’ emissions. The projects include:

• Solar Cookers
• Soil composting,
• LED energy efficient lighting retrofit programme
• Wind energy
• Domestic fire lighting

The identified offset projects will be attached to a carbon calculator, which will enable travelers to calculate and offset their emissions against an offset project of his/her choice.

Buyelwa Sonjica, South African Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs said, "Whilst we welcome the world, South Africa’s hosting of the World Cup must leave a legacy for the people of South Africa. As the environment sector, we want part of the legacy to be a green legacy. In this regard, we have initiated several programmes as part of this green legacy which should benefit South Africans from all walks of life, now, and continue beyond the moment when visitors leave our shores."

Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary-General and UNEP Executive Director, said: "We are proud to work with GEF and the government of South Africa, the host of this year’s World Cup, to assist in greening one of the greatest sporting events on Earth. The aim is to demonstrate that all sectors of society including major sporting events can catalyze a transition to a low carbon, resource efficient Green Economy. And in doing so make the players, officials and millions of fans around the world inspired to be part of a winning sustainability team."

"Events like the World Cup present a unique opportunity to showcase environmentally sound technologies and practices," said Monique Barbut, CEO and Chairperson of the GEF. "Our work with South Africa and UNEP to boost the level of renewable power generated in the six cities supporting the games will have a lasting local and global environmental impact long after the last whistle blows."

Valere Tjolle
Valere Tjolle is editor of the Sustainable Tourism Report Suite, special offer at: www.travelmole.com/stories/1142003.php