2010 carbon footprint 'huge'

2009-11-24 22:22

Cape Town - South Africa has made progress in "offsetting" its carbon footprint for the 2010 Soccer World Cup, but will still give off "huge" emissions compared to the last tournament in Germany, Environmental Affairs Minister Buyelwa Sonjica said on Tuesday.

Sonjica said in a reply to a Parliamentary question on Tuesday that a feasibility study had found that carbon emissions during the World Cup had been estimated at 2.753 million tonnes, almost 10 times the footprint of the 2006 tournament in Germany.

"Some progress has been conducted toward processes for offsetting the footprint," Sonjica said.

"However, even the footprint on its own is huge in comparison to the 2006 FIFA World Cup footprint.

"This has been mainly due to South Africa being a long haul destination as well as the geographic location between cities which requires substantive inter-city travel in order to attend matches."

Will supply 'green energy'

The carbon footprint comprises energy use in stadia and accommodation sector, stadia construction, domestic inter and intra city travel as well as international travel.

Sonjica said the department had signed a memorandum of understanding with Eskom to supply "green energy" between June 11 and July 11 next year.

Bicycles would also be used in an attempt to reduce carbon emissions during the tournament.

"At least three of the nine host cities have considered the implementation of bicycle lanes in strategic locations for the World Cup as well as [after] the World Cup, whereby further expansion of the programme will continue.

"The department will fund for maintenance of bicycles in three host cities."

Waste collecting

Sonjica said the department of environmental affairs was working with a German organisation, InWent, which had hosted two workshops on environmental management and waste management.

A training workshop for host cities was hosted with the British organisation, DEFRA, on "guidelines for the greening of sporting events".

Sonjica said Rustenburg, Polokwane and Mangaung would receive help from the government in waste collection during the tournament.

"Temporary staff will be trained and employed by the respective appointed service providers during this period.

"The main objective of the project is to ensure that the cities are clean during the hosting of the World Cup games."

The department was also working with Johannesburg, Cape Town and Nelson Mandela Bay to eradicate rats before the start of the tournament.

- SAPA