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Was the 2022 World Cup as green as it seemed?

A big new solar park, fleets of electric buses and climate-friendly projects to offset emissions 鈥 but has it been enough to make the World Cup carbon neutral?

Back in 2010, FIFA announced that the tiny country of Qatar would host the 2022 World Cup. It would be the first Middle Eastern country to do so. The tournament has seen thousands of fans travel to see it, with millions tuning in around the world. But it hasn鈥檛 been without controversy.

The event鈥檚 organisers claimed that it would be the first fully carbon-neutral World Cup. A big new solar park was built, fleets of electric buses were released onto the roads and climate-friendly projects were set up to offset emissions.

Some say that organisers are trying to do the right thing. But others are critical, arguing that emissions have been underestimated and that the carbon-neutral claim is misleading.

This episode dives into the debate and asks if the 2022 World Cup was really as green as it seemed.

Presenters Graihagh Jackson and Luke Jones are joined by:
Rumaitha Al Busaidi, Omani football pundit and climate change activist
Khaled Diab, Communications Director at not-for-profit Carbon Market Watch
Zach Banzon, goalkeeper for Kaya FC in the Philippines and 鈥淭eam Player鈥 for We Play Green
Peter Ball, Journalist, 大象传媒 World Service
Josephine Moulds, Reporter at The Bureau of Investigative Journalism

Producers: Lilly Freeston and Sophie Eastaugh
Researcher: Natasha Fernandes
Production Coordinators: Helena Warwick-Cross and Siobhan Reed
Series Producer: Alex Lewis
Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith
Sound Engineer: Tom Brignell

Available now

27 minutes

Last on

Christmas Eve 2022 11:32GMT

Broadcasts

  • Mon 19 Dec 2022 02:32GMT
  • Mon 19 Dec 2022 09:32GMT
  • Mon 19 Dec 2022 20:06GMT
  • Mon 19 Dec 2022 21:06GMT
  • Christmas Eve 2022 11:32GMT

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