Qatar fails to fulfil carbon neutrality promises for 2022 World Cup

• Roshan Amiri
• . May 31, 2022
• . Update: May 31, 2022 10:20 pm
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Qatar– With months left for 2022 FIFA World Cup to kickstart in Qatar, the Gulf nation is facing scrutiny for failing to fulfil its promises to reduce carbon footprint and misleading the public with its false claims.

According to a new report by not-for-profit organisation Carbon Market Watch (CMW), the calculations made by FIFA World Cup organisers to showcase the event as carbon neutral are underreported and ignore some key sources of emissions.

Flawed claims

Last year, Qatari officials claimed to deliver the first-ever carbon-neutral FIFA World Cup in the event’s history. Among various carbon limiting efforts proposed by Qatar for the upcoming World Cup, some include the introduction of solar-powered stadium air conditioning and instituting reusable stadium from shipping containers.

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However, the CMW report has expressed concerns over the carbon footprint created by the construction of seven new stadiums in Qatar ahead of the tournament. In the report, CMW’s Gilles Dufrasne, termed Qatar’s claim to organise a carbon neutral FIFA World Cup “not credible” and “far-fetched”.

“Despite a lack of transparency, the evidence suggests that the emissions from this World Cup will be considerably higher than expected by the organisers, and the carbon credits being purchased to offset these emissions are unlikely to have a sufficiently positive impact on the climate,” Dufrasne, who is the author of the report, added.

Concerns over the fate of World Cup

Climate advocates have criticised Qatar for creating eight times higher carbon emissions with the building of new stadiums than the figures reported in Qatar’s analysis. The report has also challenged the carbon credit system planned by Qatar for offsetting remaining emissions by the end of the tournament. In this regard, climate advocates have raised concerns over Qatar’s plans to absorb emissions by setting up massive “tree and turf nursery”.

Pointing out that the idea is “not credible”, the report added that the absorption of emissions is “unlikely to be permanent in these artificial and vulnerable green spaces”. The report also said that various actions proposed by Qatari officials to offset the carbon emission lack integrity.

“While it is supposed to deliver at least 1.8 million credits to offset World Cup emissions, it currently, just months away from the tournament, only has two registered projects, and has issued just over 130,000 credits,” the report added. Additionally, the report highlights that the stadiums in Qatar are unlikely to be the most efficient or effective venues for the provision of community services.

Experts have indicated towards further problems for the mega tournament set to take place in November this year as Qatar continues to face criticism over its false promises.