Will Qatar really produce ‘the first carbon-neutral World Cup in history’?

Has there ever been a more contentious World Cup finals than Qatar 2022? Probably the last one, which allowed the football community to happily tickle the tummy of Russia’s bear in advance of it rearing up viciously to slice a bloody “Z” across the face of its neighbour Ukraine. Since being unveiled in December 2010 as the future host of this most coveted sporting event, the upcoming tournament has been beset by issues and allegations that have centred on anti-LGBTIQ+ laws and the treatment of migrant workers.

But there are other alarming and divisive concerns to consider. The hosts have promised “the first carbon-neutral World Cup in history”. In January 2020, in tandem with the sport’s global governing body, the Qataris unveiled their sustainability strategy. “From the beginning, our preparation efforts for Qatar 2022 have been undertaken with the goal of building a sustainable and lasting legacy,” declared Abdulrahman Almuftah.

“The sustainability initiatives we have implemented in our projects contribute to Qatar National Vision 2030 and will also have a positive impact on the way future World Cups and other large-scale sporting events are organised around the world,” he promised. But how will they realise this landmark moment in the 92-year history of the competition?

“Achieving carbon neutrality is a process made up of four key components,” explained Almuftah. “Firstly, it required raising awareness among key stakeholders, including the general public. This was followed by us creating a detailed estimation of what our carbon footprint will be. The third step is the one that most people will hear about, and that is the measures taken to limit carbon emissions, which will lead us to the final part of the process,