一項研究顯示，非洲首次主辦的世界盃足球賽，將產生275萬噸碳排放，成為運動史上環境衝擊最嚴重的賽事之一。這項名為「2010世界盃碳中和可行性研究」的報告是由南非與挪威政府共同合作完成。
即使未將長途國際飛行計算在內，明年於南非舉行的足球盛事將較2006年德國世界盃產生8倍的碳足跡。產生如此大量碳排放的主要因素在於各個賽場間相距甚遠，且南非欠缺環保的運輸系統。
根據報告指出，在南非本地產生的排碳量將達到896,661噸，另外1,856,589 tonnes將來自於世界各國球迷的長途飛行。
報告指出，由於南非幅員廣大，迫使球員、工作人員、支援人員必須要在9個城市間的64場比賽穿梭來回。南非面積約是英國的5倍大。
南非的運輸系統比起許多國家較不環保。就城市之間的交通而言，在南非各個賽事間的距離較德國要遙遠的多，且南非缺乏高速鐵路系統，使得多數人必須搭機往返數次，也致使較高的碳排放。在市內，由於沒有地下鐵或輕軌電車，訪客需要搭乘汽車或公車。
但占了最大部分的碳排放則是國際飛行部分，占了67.4%。其次依需是市內交通17.6%、住宿能源使用12.4%、城市間交通1.4%、球場興建與材料0.6%、球場及管理區域能源使用0.5%。
報告提到，要中和此次世界盃碳排放，將耗資約540萬至900萬美元。報告呼籲，世界足球總會(Fifa)、地方籌備委員會與南非政府提早執行碳補償計畫。
地方籌備委員會本周回應表示，已備有一項「綠色目標」行動，並指出用於開幕式、首場和總決賽的「足球城」體育場，使用了大量舊運動場拆下的材料回收建成的。
委員會表示，體育場也將使用無水環保廁所，廁所溝渠只用非飲用水沖灌。委員會也將致力於垃圾減量，提供可重複使用的杯子並限制餐具使用。
Africa's first football World Cup will generate 2.75m tonnes of carbon emissions, one of the biggest environmental impacts of any sporting event in history, a study has found.
The finals in South Africa next year are expected to have a carbon footprint eight times that of the 2006 World Cup in Germany, even before long-haul international travel is taken into account.
The main reasons for the discrepancy are the vast distances between South Africa's host cities and the lack of a green transport infrastructure.
The estimated output from South Africa is 896,661 tonnes of carbon dioxide, according to the optimistically entitled Feasibility Study for a Carbon Neutral 2010 Fifa World Cup, commissioned jointly by the South African and Norwegian governments. Another 1,856,589 tonnes will result from fans travelling from around the world.
It cites the geography of South Africa as the main culprit, forcing players, officials and supporters to travel great distances between the 64 matches spread across nine host cities. South Africa is five times the size of the UK.
South Africa's transport systems are also less eco-friendly than in many countries. "For inter-city transport ... distances between matches in South Africa are much greater than in Germany, and the lack of high-speed rail links means that most visitors will fly multiple times between matches, leading to much higher transport emissions," the report said. Within cities, they will use hired cars or buses, because there is no underground or light railway alternative.
But getting there will be the biggest contributor to the total of 2,753,250 tonnes of carbon. International transport represents 67.4% of emissions, intercity transport 17.6%, intracity transport 1.4%, stadium construction and materials 0.6%, stadium and precinct energy use 0.5%, and energy use in accommodation 12.4%.
The report said carbon offset programmes to counter the World Cup's impact would cost between $5.4m and $9m (£3.3m to £5.4m).It called for the early implementation of carbon offset programmes from football's governing body, Fifa, the local organising committee and the South African government.
The local organising committee responded this week with a "green goal" initiative. It said the construction of Soccer City stadium, the venue for the opening ceremony and the first and final matches, used thousands of tonnes of builders' rubble from the demolition of parts of the old FNB stadium.
Waterless urinals will be used in the stadium and the pitch will be irrigated exclusively with non-drinkable water, the organising committee said. Waste reduction will be pursued, with reusable cups and limited use of food containers.
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