The name of the emissions with a sponsor is not surprising. Elite football teams and sports governance organizations have increased advantageous sponsor contracts with high -carbon sector, including oil and gas companies, airlines, automakers, and fast food chains.
The most disturbing thing is that FIFA in the world has recently had it I negotiated the transaction Alamco, the world’s largest oil and gas company based in Saudi Arabia. The contract includes the exposure in the next men’s World Cup final in North America in 2026. The World Cup finals in 2034 were awarded to Saudi Arabia.
On the other hand, the English Football Association is sponsored by Emirates, an airline -based airline in the United Arab Emirates. This contract includes the world’s oldest national soccer competition, The Men’s Fa Cup. Then there is the current champion of Manchester City, a British Premier League. He is sponsored by another Middle East airline, Etihad.
Looking further in Europe, you can see that Emirates also supports Real Madrid, the current European champion. The biggest club sponsor contract we could identify Our research The Pali Germann’s connection with Qatar Airlines was worth about $ 80 million a year. The Parisman German, which was properly banked, is the current French champion.
elite
All of this high carbon fund pouring into soccer will help you unstable the climate system and further normalize your life and natural ecosystems and lifestyles. Efforts to suppress the empty journey, the consumption of gas polluting gas, the consumption of animal products, and many other high pollution activities have been impaired by the “colonization” of the cultural space.
Our new research also examined other main sources in soccer. This data was brought out of a variety of sources, including soccer clubs, rule organizations (where they exist), academic papers, and sustainable reports of other research reports.
There was a large -scale data gap, and it was unusual, but it was discovered that the other two emissions were particularly important. Especially new stadium construction for major tournaments.
we Estimation The average match for the men’s domestic elite league, such as the English Premier League, has led to about 1,700 TCO2E. About half of this was mainly due to cars by car. In international club games in the UEFA Champions League, etc., visiting “away” fans will increase about 50 % by empty journey.
One game in the Men’s World Cup Finals would cause 44,000 TCO2E to 72,000 TCO2E. This is 26 times to 42 times that of domestic elite games. The emission of the World Cup match is equivalent to as many 51,500 British cars operated for one year.
Competitiveness
An important factor in these calculations is to assign emissions related to the construction of a new stadium for tournaments. It claims that most of the emissions from construction should be assigned to the World Cup, so the emissions for each game should be headed to the above range.
In contrast, some GHG emission accounting methods can allocate a very large percentage of these emissions to future games in these stadiums (after the world’s cup). However, most of these new venues are not used in most countries because the demand for 40,000 seater stadiums (the minimum size specified in the World Cup Final Match) is rarely required.
Non -sponsorship emissions, us Estimation The fact that more than 93 % of them are caused by elite football (either the national level or club level) indicates this level at this level.
According to the analysis, the main focus of climate behavior in the soccer category should be in a quick stage of sponsor contracts with fossil fuels, airlines, and other advanced pollution companies. This is a useful time to provide one of the fastest options to reduce emissions in a wider society.
You can also improve “beautiful games”. It is not so easy to predict the winners of the elite league or cup. Considering the methods of these advantageous sponsor transactions dominating and fixing the world’s top clubs and tournaments, there is a great advantage in sports competitiveness.
Burning out syndrome
The next priority is to reduce the number of international games played to reduce the air travel. Suitable for player health and happiness, fan pockets and climate.
Again, elite level is important. Located in the Men’s UEFA Champions League This season Competition has increased from 125 to 189. This is an increase of 50 % or more.
meanwhile Next Men’s World Cup Final It will include 104 games rising from 64 in 2022. Even worse, tournaments are being held throughout Canada, the United States, and Mexico.
The increase in these matches must at least reversed. The focus of international games is to encourage local fans to attend, not thousands of miles away.
When pursuing these changes, sports have multiple advantages. Professional soccer players are putting pressure on more and more games in each season, leading to burnout syndrome.
conversation
Some clubs and governings are signed up to the United Nations Sports for climate behavior frameworkIncluding half the discharge target by 2030, it will reach “Net Zero” by 2040. However, by using a carbon offset, the organization can avoid significant short -term actions.
There are several initiatives that have begun to change the tide into more reckless actions in the elite football industry.
More than 100 major female soccer players have a group Requested At the end of a sponsorship agreement with Alamco’s FIFA, Top Germany Club Bayern Munchen Dropped Following fans protest against human rights, Qatar Airlines as a shirt sponsor.
Some clubs like England Forest Green Rover Pioneer in low -carbon sports. In addition, measures to improve the public transportation on the ground and increase the use of fans are characteristic of some soccer tournaments such as the World Cup Final and the Euro.
On the other hand, initiative, such as Vow and Planet league It has been a success to encourage soccer fans to adopt low -carbon behavior through club -based competitions, Cooldown network The climate problem is a permanent feature of the game commentary.
However, we need more ambition to get the ultimate cup of stable climate that sports can have a future. Given the cultural range of soccer, a strong behavior in this sector may help you change global conversations on climate issues and stop the tide of climate disasters in Los Angeles.
These authors
Dr. Stuart Parkinson is an executive director Scientist for global responsibility (SGR)I have a PhD in climate science. He is the main of the report, Dirty tackle: Increased carbon dioxide emissions in soccer。
Andrew Sims is a co -director New Meteorological Research InstituteCo -founder Budbert CampaignCoordinator Quick migration allianceAnd co -author of the original Green New Deal. Follow Bluesky @Andrewsimms.bsky.social。
