November 20, 2022, FIFA World Cup 2022 starts with millions of fans watching from all around the world, but little do they know about the cataclysmic environmental effects produced by the construction of the 7 new stadiums for the tournament. Organizers assured that the competition would be “the first carbon neutral FIFA World Cup in history,” but they have not kept their promise. Despite numerous efforts to present a modern and carbon-neutral event, FIFA has failed on their end. From a multitude of transportation efforts to Qatar, to the construction of the stadiums themselves, World Cup 2022 will be forever remembered as an extraordinary event, but also as a climate catastrophe.
Qatar embarked on an ambitious construction spree to build stadiums, infrastructure, and accommodations for the massive event. This vast urbanization led to habitat destruction and mainly excessive productions of carbon dioxide. Patrick Smith states that “The environmental cost of the tournament has crystallized the eco-anxiety for many following a year of unusually extreme weather and climate events around the world, such as droughts, wildfires and floods” (Smith 2022). The country experienced sudden and surprising weather because of the abrupt establishment of the stadiums and other infrastructure. The rapid construction also required a vast number of resources, including water and energy. Qatar's dry climate already makes it hard to receive water resources, and the increased demand worsened water scarcity issues. Furthermore, the constant use of fossil fuels, contributed to carbon emissions and air pollution, further diminishing environmental quality. Ironically, Stadium 974 was named after the 974 shipping containers used to build this stadium…
Hosting such a big event generated unfortunate amounts of waste, from construction debris to plastics disposed of by fans and tourists. The lack of a suitable waste management program led to soil, water, and air pollution. The World Cup's carbon footprint was enormous, due to transportation emissions, energy consumption, and construction. The increased air travel for spectators contributed significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. “Taking a long-haul flight generates more carbon emissions than the average person” states Niko Kommenda. Millions of people traveled to Qatar internationally with the only way being aviation for some people, which drastically impacted the Co2 emissions.
Although the World Cup lasted only a few weeks, some say the infrastructure was worth it and can still be used after the tournament ends. This is true as “Some of the stadiums will be dismantled and recycled” while “Others will be downsized, and some transformed into residential and shopping destinations” (Baker 2022). It can be very beneficial and time-consuming to repurpose the stadiums for something else, but is it so important that you risk changing Qatar’s climate forever?
The World Cup 22 stands as an important reminder of the environmental dangers associated with mega-events. Despite efforts to present innovation and carbon-neutrality, the tournament’s environmental legacy is scarred by its resource depletion, waste generation, and carbon emissions as well as the officials who promised us a low-emission tournament like never seen before. World Cup 2022 is renowned for its thrilling games and heart-stopping moments, but its hidden pernicious environmental effects will be forever remembered in the history books.
Works Cited
Baker, Aryn. “Here’s What Will Happen to Qatar’s Billion Dollar Stadiums Now That the World Cup Is Over.” Time, 20 Dec. 2022, time.com/6242292/what-happens-to-qatar-world-cup-stadiums/.
Boykoff, Jules. “The World Cup in Qatar Is a Climate Catastrophe.” Scientific American, 23 Nov. 2022, www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-world-cup-in-qatar-is-a-climate-catastrophe/.
De Oliveira, Armelle, and Patrick Smith. “Qatar World Cup Lays Bare the Huge Environmental Cost of the Tournament.” NBC News, 2 Dec. 2022, www.nbcnews.com/news/world/qatar-world-cup-environmental-climate-change-cost-desert-rcna57632.
Gilbert, Ben. “Will Qatar Really Produce “the First Carbon-Neutral World Cup in History”?” The Guardian, 12 Oct. 2022, www.theguardian.com/football/2022/oct/12/qatar-carbon-neutral-world-cup-history.
Irfan, Umair. “The World Cup Is Missing Its Climate Goals. It Should Still Keep Taking Shots.” Vox, 10 Dec. 2022, www.vox.com/science-and-health/23458620/fifa-world-cup-2022-greenwashing-climate-change.
Niko Kommenda. “How Your Flight Emits as Much CO2 as Many People Do in a Year.” The Guardian, The Guardian, 19 July 2019, www.theguardian.com/environment/ng-interactive/2019/jul/19/carbon-calculator-how-taking-one-flight-emits-as-much-as-many-people-do-in-a-year.
Raji, Khalid. “Qatar 2022: The Environmental Cost of the FIFA World Cup.” Earth.org, 17 Nov. 2022, earth.org/qatar-2022/#:~:text=According%20to%20reports%2C%20constructing%20the.
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