Foto: AP / TASS
According to Euronews, it has been estimated that approximately 4.23 million metric tons of carbon dioxide will be released into the atmosphere during the tournament. That is roughly the same amount that Iceland emits in a year. Moreover, nearly 3 million metric tons will come from fans’ air travel alone.
According to scientists, organizers of major sports and music events often focus on eco-friendly stadiums and concert venues, even though the main source of emissions lies elsewhere entirely—in travel.
To test this hypothesis, researchers examined not only the upcoming World Cup but also Coldplay’s 2024 European tour. The results were telling: 97% of all emissions during concerts were linked to fan travel. For the World Cup, this figure is estimated at 82%.
The study’s authors believe that instead of offsetting emissions, organizers should help fans choose more eco-friendly transportation. This involves developing rail service, public transportation, and other modes of travel with a smaller carbon footprint.
“An effective climate strategy for mega-events like the World Cup isn’t limited to stadiums. That’s only a small fraction of total emissions,” noted study lead Sean Larkom.
Coldplay’s tour served as an example of how this approach works. The band offered fans the option to choose more eco-friendly routes through a special app and incentivized them with discounts on merchandise. As a result, emissions associated with fans’ travel were reduced by 48%, and the tour’s overall carbon footprint was 46% lower than that of typical concert tours.
Researchers also point out that offsetting emissions alone is not enough. They note that during the Eras World Tour, Taylor Swift’s private jet flights alone resulted in emissions of more than 511,000 kg of carbon dioxide. This figure does not include flights taken by millions of fans or the transportation of concert equipment.
