South African World Cup – Not as Green as Would Be Seen

Despite the promotion of world soccer as an increasingly green initiative, it seems that the 2010 South African World Cup could generate up to 900,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide, with a further 1.9 million tonnes of greenhouse gas.

This figure is eight times greater than the 2006 Germany World Cup, and the factors pertaining to this soaring figure are relatively obvious. Within the 900,000 figure arrived upon by a study conducted by the South African government and the Norwegian Embassy, not only is local transportation, and accommodation counted for, but also the construction of new stadiums. A factor developed, green Germany did not have to concern itself as much about. The 1.9 million tonnes of greenhouse gas relates to international travel to South Africa over the period.

South Africa’s ambition in securing itself as a host for the World Cup is not only to step away from it’s lingering apartheid image, but also to use it as an opportunity to improve upon an infrastructure that will last beyond the World Cup. And that should, hopefully, take on definite green initiatives.

It’s “green plan” implemented with the support of the Global Environmental Facility features two strands. The first, an initiative due to take place across all six hosting cities, plans fairly straightforwardly, to install solar panels and more efficient lighting in streets, traffic lights, and public areas, in an effort to reduce fossil fuel. It also aims to create a greater level of public awareness of green living. It has been given a budget of $10m.

The second strand is on a greater scale, a $339m budget, and if successful could leave behind a legacy environmental consciousness. It centers, since 2008 when construction began, on improving public transport infrastructure in seven of the nine cities that will host World Cup matches. Pedestrian walkways and cycle ways have been improved to entice local traffic away from their vehicles, while a rapid transport system of buses has been created in some cities.

$11m of this transport budget has been put forward by the United Nations Development Program, while $328 million has come from national investment. It’s clear, that with this level of investment, the initiative for South Africa needs to work.

These initiatives however, will be challenging culturally for a nation that takes pride in individual car ownership, and hasn’t quite gotten it’s head around the benefits of sharing public transport with a mix of social ranking. With the World Cup kicking off today, the goals have been set for South Africa, it’s a matter now of scoring them.