The 2010 FIFA World Cup event is expected to generate some 2,7 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions, largely attributable to significant international air travel, as well as domestic travel. This is about eight times the size of the carbon footprint of the Germany World Cup.
The Global Environment Facility, UNEP and the South African Department of Environmental Affairs have contributed US$ 9 million to support various 'green initiatives'.
The three initiatives are: Greener lighting for World Cup host cities; green passport; and offsetting teams emissions.
The 'Green Lighting' initiative is supported by the $1 million GEF funding, and aimed at greening public street lights, traffic lights and billboards in and around the stadiums of six host cities, namely: the City of Tshwane (Pretoria); the Johannesburg Metropolitan municipality; the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan municipality (Port Elizabeth); the Polokwane local municipality; the Rustenburg local municipality; and the Manguang local municipality (Bloemfontein). Twelve billboards, two in each city, were switched to solar power; 60 solar traffic lights were rolled out; and 78 streetlights were upgraded to use solar power and compact fluorescent lamps, across the six host cities.
The 'Green Passport' initiative is aimed at raising awareness, and encouraging visitors to make responsible travel choices while in the country. The Green Passport document provides travellers with information on host city green goal plans and achievements; green accommodation, restaurants and activities, specific guidelines for sustainable tourism, and a carbon footprint calculator and tips on how to reduce ones personal footprint.
Eleven of the teams participating in the World Cup would offset the emissions caused by their participation in the event. The Puma sportswear company would fund carbon offsetting for its sponsored teams, namely: Algeria, Cameroon, the Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Uruguay, Italy and Switzerland.
As part of offsetting carbon emissions, one can SMS "GOGREEN" to 34066, at a cost of R2, which would then be put towards carbon offset projects. The SMS campaign, together with the carbon calculator and the chosen offset projects would be available until December 2010, to allow participants, travellers to South Africa and international and domestic spectators to offset their carbon emissions.
MOST POPULAR IN LAST 24 HRS
MOST POPULAR IN LAST 7 DAYS
|
