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illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on Euronews or enjoy below:
🗞️ Driving the news: Football is under scrutiny for its rising carbon emissions, which total 64–66 million tonnes of CO₂ annually—equivalent to Austria’s entire footprint
• A new report, Dirty Tackle, highlights how fan travel, stadium construction, and sponsorships from high-carbon industries are worsening the sport’s environmental impact
• Despite mounting climate threats to football, governing bodies have done little to curb emissions
🔭 The context: Transport is the biggest contributor, with fan travel and team flights accounting for much of the sport’s emissions
• Stadium construction, like the 1.6 million tonnes of CO₂ from Qatar’s 2022 World Cup, adds to the problem
• Meanwhile, sponsorships from oil companies, airlines, and car manufacturers reinforce climate-damaging behaviors among fans
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Football’s global influence could be a force for climate awareness, yet its deep ties to polluting industries risk normalizing high-carbon lifestyles
• Rising sea levels already threaten communities like the Marshall Islands, whose football federation launched a "vanishing jersey" campaign to highlight their climate plight
• Without systemic changes, even the game itself faces disruptions, with flooding, extreme heat, and unplayable pitches becoming more frequent
⏭️ What's next: Some clubs and players are advocating for climate action, such as Forest Green Rovers’ carbon-neutral stadium and Patrick Bamford’s sustainability awareness campaign
• However, the report urges football bodies to cut ties with polluting sponsors and adopt more ambitious sustainability targets
• Without significant action, climate change could irreversibly alter the sport's future
💬 One quote: “FIFA’s willingness to let Saudi Arabia improve its reputation through football is isolating players, fans and the planet.” – Dutch footballer Tessel Middag
📈 One stat: Fan travel accounts for nearly 50% of emissions at domestic matches and surges up to 42 times higher for events like the World Cup due to international flights
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