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  UNEP 17 May 06
Green Goal for 2006 FIFA World Cup

PlanetArk 17 May 06
Soccer World Cup Seeks Green Legacy

BONN, Germany - The World Cup finals in Germany hope to leave a green legacy away from the pitches with measures to curb global warming by hordes of fans, organisers said on Wednesday.

Green Goal, set up by the organisers and whose members include German football legend Franz Beckenbauer, said it would also seek to limit waste, promote public transport and even have environmentally friendly toilets at next month's tournament.

"Environmental considerations will take centre stage in this competition for the very first time, with clear and measurable objectives, and we hope that it will leave a lasting legacy," said Erik Falt, of the UN Environment Programme which backs Green Goal.

The scheme would offset 100,000 tonnes of heat-trapping carbon dioxide generated within Germany by transportation, construction and maintenance of the stadiums and the presence of 3.2 million spectators, it said.

Carbon offset projects include planting forests, which soak up carbon as they grow. Most scientists blame carbon dioxide, emitted by burning fossil fuels, as a main cause of rising temperatures that could wreak havoc with the climate.

"The pitch at the Berlin Olympiastadion and other stadia will be watered from a new rainwater harvesting system and water-free urinals in the men's toilets will feature at numerous key locations," Green Goal said in a statement.

Fans buying tickets for matches in the 12 World Cup venues could also use them for free access to local public transportation during 24 hours to encourage spectators to leave their cars at home.


UNEP 17 May 06
Green Goal for 2006 FIFA World Cup
Rash of Environmentally-Friendly Initiatives Agreed in Areas of Transport and Waste up to Water Savings and Public Awareness

Frankfurt/Nairobi: As global excitement over the 2006 FIFA World Cup reaches fever pitch, members of the Green Goal team met today in Germany to review the projects of the most environmentally-friendly football tournament ever.

Green Goal, set up by the German Organizing Committee and whose squad includes the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Oeko Institute, agreed that environmental messages contained in a short and witty film will be presented on giant screens as part of the pre-match warm up before each and every match.

The film, which is set to be screened for the first time in Berlin next week, ends with the slogan "World Champion for the Environment: We are working on it".

The review of the Green Goal programme was conducted at the Headquarters of the Organizing Committee in the lush suburbs of Frankfurt, within sight of the stadium where the much expected Netherlands-Argentina football drama and other games will unfold next month.

Following a meeting with Wolfgang Niersbach, the Executive Vice-President of the Organizing Committee, the Director of the UNEP Division of Communications and Public Information, Eric Falt--who is responsible for the organization's sports and environment initiative--said today: "Environmental considerations will take centre stage in this competition for the very first time, with clear and measurable objectives, and we hope that it will leave a lasting legacy".

Green Goal, whose stars include German football legend Franz Beckenbauer and former UNEP Executive Director Klaus Toepfer, also put the final touches to the Climate Neutral scheme, which will offset all 100,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide generated within Germany by transportation, construction and maintenance of the stadia, and the presence of 3.2 million expected spectators.

As part of an environmentally sound transport plan, fans purchasing tickets for the matches in the 12 World Cup venues will be able to use them for free access to local public transportation during 24 hours, as part of the Kombi ticket scheme. The Kombi ticket commitment alone will cost the World Cup 2006 Organizing Committee some two million Euros, but should save large amounts of greenhouse gases by reducing private car use.

Other energy savings schemes centre around the stadia themselves. For example, the latest high-tech energy management systems have been installed in the Munich Arena and should realize a 20 per cent reduction in electricity consumption on both and match and non-match days. In addition, the pitch at the Berlin Olympiastadion and other stadia will be watered from a new rainwater harvesting system, and water-free urinals in the mens' toilets will feature at numerous key locations.

With the issue of waste avoidance foremost on their minds, the organizers have also introduced the reusable "Cup of the Cup". Fans will pay a deposit of one Euro for the cup which will be the only one sold and used for drinks at the grounds.

Today it was also announced that 300 volunteers, trained to educate fans about the aims and objectives of Green Goal, are to be located inside each of the 12 stadia. A Green Goal brochure, featuring the logos of supporting organizations, including UNEP, the German Environment Ministry, DBU, FIFA, Deutsche Telekom, Plastics Europe, Coca Cola, Deutsche Bahn, EnBW and Total, was already made available for fans at railway stations in the 12 tournament cities. The brochure, a key element for public awareness, was sent this week to 25,000 journalists around the world.

"Environmental considerations and impacts, including those that add to climate change, are increasingly being factored into important sporting events. The Olympic movement, in which UNEP is an active partner, has in many respects led the way," said Mr Falt. "The Organizing Committee for the 2006 FIFA World Cup is keen to bring the same considerations to the football world. We are encouraged by both their plans and their enthusiasm and look forward to working with them and FIFA, and to sound, reliable and verifiable outcomes in areas such as energy efficiency, waste handling and water savings," he added.
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