Football has been given a wake-up call over its lack of action on climate change after a major new report revealed the sport had the same carbon dioxide emissions as Austria. The subject of sustainability in football has come more into the mainstream over the past five years, with those involved at all levels of the game coming to understand its importance. But while awareness has undoubtedly increased, tangible action has not always followed.
Teams taking unnecessary short-haul flights to games and FIFA signing a gigantic sponsorship deal with the world’s biggest polluter while expanding the game at break-neck speed are just two examples of football failing to embrace its role in the sustainability movement. The need for change has now been laid out in a report entitled ‘Dirty Tackle: the growing carbon footprint of football’ by the New Weather Institute from Scientists for Global Responsibility.
It estimates that the global football industry pollutes between 64 and 66million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions equivalent per year, which is equal to around the whole of Austria, or to burning 150million barrels of oil. The landmark research represents the first time the entire global football industry’s carbon footprint has been assessed. The report comes at an opportune moment, as the industry continues to expand and apparently disregard climate targets. FIFA and UEFA are among the organisations in football to have signed up to United Nations' targets to reduce emissions by 50 per cent by 2030 and to reach net-zero by 2040.
The report states clearly: “On current projections, the Paris target to keep global temperature rise below 1.5°C will be breached by 2031. Yet our research indicates that the football sector is not even close to doing its fair share to prevent this. Action needs to be rapidly increased.”. Perhaps the strongest argument in the report is the need for polluting sponsors to follow in the footsteps of tobacco companies and be banned. “Despite its mass appeal and global audience, football is struggling to get a handle on its true environmental impact due to patchy data and the exclusion of key areas of its carbon footprint, especially sponsored emissions,” lead researcher Dr Stuart Parkinson said.
“This research documents compelling evidence that football is a major polluter and its contribution to climate change is growing. It also shows that there is little indication that decision-makers are prepared to adequately assess the game’s pollution problem, let alone take the steps necessary to reduce it.”. Remarkably, of the huge headline figure of CO2 emissions, over 75 per cent is due to sponsorship deals with high-carbon companies, like FIFA’s with Aramco, UEFA’s with Qatar Airways and clubs like Paris Saint-Germain (Qatar Airways), Real Madrid and Arsenal (Emirates) and Manchester City (Etihad). So integrated have these relationships become that the associated emissions have simply been swept under the carpet, their impacts not considered.
The report makes two main practical demands to the football industry, beyond the obvious of reducing emissions, raising awareness and collecting more data: to ban polluting sponsors and to redesign the football calendar to make it more regional. With the 2026 World Cup spread across three countries, one of which is suffering serious wildfires, the 2030 tournament on three continents and the 2034 edition going to Saudi Arabia – a country intimately equated with sportswashing – the timing is pertinent.
“What is needed is real leadership from governing bodies,” said David Wheeler, Wycombe midfielder and sustainability campaigner. “They are already under pressure from players when it comes to the ever expanding football calendar, which is overburdening players. As players, we are not afraid to use our voices, but we need FIFA and those at the top to listen.”. Join our new WhatsApp communityand receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
