Original version

BBC World Service Australasia

The Climate Question

Factual: Science & Nature: Nature & Environment

Why we find it so hard to save our own planet, and how we might change that.

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa Schedule

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa

BBC World Service Online

BBC World Service schedule for American satellite radio and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean

BBC World Service

BBC World Service South Asia

BBC World Service News Internet

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

BBC World Service West and Central Africa Schedule

BBC World Service West and Central Africa

BBC World Service East Asia

The Climate Question: Was the 2022 World Cup as green as it seemed?

Magazines & Reviews

19/12/2022 GMT

Was the 2022 World Cup as green as it seemed?

BBC World Service - The Climate Question, Was the 2022 World Cup as green as it seemed?

Did Qatar deliver on “the first carbon-neutral World Cup in history”?

A big new solar park, fleets of electric buses and climate-friendly projects to offset emissions – but has it been enough to make the World Cup carbon neutral?

Back in 2010, FIFA announced that the tiny country of Qatar would host the 2022 World Cup. It would be the first Middle Eastern country to do so. The tournament has seen thousands of fans travel to see it, with millions tuning in around the world. But it hasn’t been without controversy.

The event’s organisers claimed that it would be the first fully carbon-neutral World Cup. A big new solar park was built, fleets of electric buses were released onto the roads and climate-friendly projects were set up to offset emissions.

Some say that organisers are trying to do the right thing. But others are critical, arguing that emissions have been underestimated and that the carbon-neutral claim is misleading.

This episode dives into the debate and asks if the 2022 World Cup was really as green as it seemed.

Presenters Graihagh Jackson and Luke Jones are joined by:
Rumaitha Al Busaidi, Omani football pundit and climate change activist
Khaled Diab, Communications Director at not-for-profit Carbon Market Watch
Zach Banzon, goalkeeper for Kaya FC in the Philippines and “Team Player” for We Play Green
Peter Ball, Journalist, BBC World Service
Josephine Moulds, Reporter at The Bureau of Investigative Journalism 

Producers: Lilly Freeston and Sophie Eastaugh
Researcher: Natasha Fernandes
Production Coordinators: Helena Warwick-Cross and Siobhan Reed
Series Producer: Alex Lewis
Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith
Sound Engineer: Tom Brignell

Accessibility links

Programme Index

The Climate Question

Was the 2022 World Cup as green as it seemed?

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC World Service Australasia

About BBC World Service