FIFA Working to Offset Carbon Footprint of 2014 World Cup

In a recent progress report on the preparations for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, FIFA secretary general Jérôme Valcke illustrated how the governing body of the sport is working to improve sustainability at the venues and in the cities which will host the tournament. In addition to discussing the state of qualifying tournaments around the globe and the sale of tickets to the matches, Valcke noted the collaboration between FIFA and the 2014 organizing committee to calculate and offset the carbon footprint of the World Cup.FIFA, the international governing body of the sport, has worked with Brazilian leaders to calculate the carbon footprint of the tournament (as well as the Confederations Cup held in the country last June). Estimating the output at 2.7 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions, FIFA and the organizing committee are utilizing verified carbon offsetting projects as well as working with stakeholders to reduce overall emissions.The organization has also launched sustainability training courses for the operators of the 12 stadiums that will host the month-long tournament next summer. The first of three sessions took place in Curitiba in August, with two more planned for November and February in an effort to increase operators’ knowledge of sustainable operations.Read Valcke’s full report here.