Objective: Minimise the carbon footprint of the 2010 event

A key overarching aim of Host City Cape Town’s Green Goal effort is to ensure that the 2010 FIFA World Cup TM is a low-carbon event. This specifically relates to ensuring low climate change impact through the reduction of Green House Gas (GHG) emissions. Where GHG emissions cannot be avoided, they will be mitigated through a range of Green Goal 2010 carbon mitigation projects. Carbon footprint reduction and hosting a low-carbon event can be achieved through integrating energy efficiency, waste reduction and avoidance, and water conservation targets in regards to all event-related activities.

The objective of the carbon mitigation programme is to compensate for unavoidable GHG emissions, such as activities related to transport (ground and air travel) and accommodation. Such compensation can be achieved through the purchase of TRECs, or capital investment in climate protection projects.

The Projects

• Determine the carbon footprint of the 2010 event
• Identify and implement carbon mitigation project(s) in Cape Town/Western Cape
• Install energy-efficient technologies in stadia and training venues, and at fan fest and PVAs
  

Project Progress

Determine the carbon footprint of the 2010 event

In 2008, the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT) together with the local United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) office initiated a process to design, mobilise resources for, and implement a plan of action to make the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ a carbon-neutral event. UNDP developed the terms of reference for the overall carbon-neutral programme, which highlighted the particular importance of offsetting transport-related GHG emissions from the 2010 FIFA World Cup™.

Simultaneously, the Norwegian Embassy in Pretoria together with Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) partnered with DEAT to conduct a feasibility study for achieving a carbon-neutral 2010 FIFA World Cup™. International consulting firm Econ Pöyry was commissioned to conduct the feasibility study and prepare recommendations.

The purpose of the Econ Pöyry study was to:

• estimate the carbon footprint of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™;
• identify measures to reduce the carbon emissions associated with the event; and
• propose an institutional regime for carbon offsets.

The study concluded that the estimated carbon footprint of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ is more than 896 000 tCO2e, with an additional 1 856 000 tCO2e contributed by international travel. The former value is more than eight times the estimated footprint of the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ in Germany, which was stated as 100 000 tonnes in the Green Goal Legacy Report published by the German Local Organising Committee (LOC). Reasons for the significantly higher footprint include the lack of high-speed rail links in South Africa, which means that most visitors will fly multiple times between matches, which in turn leads to much higher transport emissions. Passenger car use will also be higher. Although major efforts are being made to upgrade public transport options, the reality is that much of this travel will still be in passenger cars or small buses, rather than light rail as in Germany. Other reasons include the construction of five new stadia (with embedded carbon from their construction) and the fact that South Africa is a more GHG-intensive economy than many European countries, with electricity being generated from coal instead of renewable energy sources, which gives rise to higher Carbon Dioxide (CO2 ) emissions.

In 2009, the City of Cape Town (CoCT) commissioned Econ Pöyry to undertake a more detailed study of Host City Cape Town’s carbon footprint, including the FIFA fan fest, PVAs and the hosting of the final draw in Cape Town in December 2009. The study concluded that Host City Cape Town’s contribution to the national footprint is approximately 1 500 000 tCO2e, or 17%. An additional 30 000 tonnes of CO2 will result from the increased event footprint beyond the competition in the stadium.

It was estimated that it would cost between $6.8 and $12 million to offset South Africa’s domestic carbon footprint of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™. To date, funding for offsetting the domestic footprint has not been secured, and it is unlikely that sufficient funding will be raised before the event.

Host City Cape Town is therefore following the lead of London (host of the 2012 Summer Olympic Games), rather aiming to host a low-carbon event as opposed to a carbon-neutral event. The focus is no longer on developing new projects to offset carbon emissions; rather it is on seeking long-term energy efficiency within existing projects as Host City Cape Town prepares to host the competition.

Identify and implement carbon mitigation project(s) in Cape Town/Western Cape

In January 2009, the Norwegian Embassy in Pretoria and NORAD announced that it had allocated R7.5 million to the CoCT and Provincial Government Western Cape (PGWC) to mitigate carbon emissions emanating from the hosting of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™. A carbon workshop sponsored by Konrad-Adenuaer-Stiftung (KAS) was convened by Host City Cape Town in February 2009 to review potential projects that could be implemented with this grant.

Seven projects were subsequently approved for funding. They are as follows:

• Installation of additional lighting control in Green Point Stadium
  (Recommendation from green review of Green Point Stadium)
• Retrofitting of streetlights along protocol routes with low-energy luminaires
  (CoCT Energy and Climate Change Strategy priority)
• Retrofitting of traffic lights along protocol routes with LED lights
  (CoCT Energy and Climate Change Strategy priority)
• Installation of a hydroelectric turbine to generate electricity from spring water in the GPP (awareness-raising opportunity)
• Retrofitting of a Council-owned building with energy-efficiency measures
  (Extension of existing project)
• Installation of energy-efficient floodlights and electricity submeters at Philippi
  Stadium
• Solar water heaters for low-income households (extension of existing project)
  
  

Business plans have been developed for each project, and implementation commenced in August 2009 for completion by December 2010.

Install energy-efficient technologies in stadia and training venues, and at fan fest and PVAs

The environmental Record of Decision (ROD), issued by the Department of Environment and Development Planning (DEADP) on 31 October 2006, and the subsequent ruling on appeals against the ROD on 5 January 2007, called for a number of energy-efficiency interventions to be included in the design of the new stadium. These include the following:

• Energy-efficient lighting and automatic switches and sensors
• Energy-efficient heating, ventilation and cooling systems (including minimal pipe runs and heat exchange)
• Insulation of hot-water pipes
• Maximum use of daylight

The ruling on the appeal recommended that the CoCT, in consultation with PGWC and National Government, consider the possibility of using renewable energy sources in the stadium precinct and Green Point Urban Park. The following energy-efficiency measures were included in the Green Point Stadium design:

• The building is raked outward to shade itself, while a mesh fabric cladding allows 30% light filtration. The fabric allows for natural ventilation, while the white colour reduces thermal radiation.
• The translucent glass roof facilitates natural lighting.
• The open concourse at podium level facilitates natural ventilation, and the 5 meter gap between the inner and outer skins of the façade provides for passive ventilation through a stack effect.
• A water-cooled variable refrigerant-volume cooling system is used for air conditioning. This system presents significant energy savings over individual air-conditioning modules.
• CFLs are used where possible.
• Where halogens are used, they are 45% more efficient than the standard fittings.
• A BMS allows for control and monitoring of air conditioning and lights in different areas.
• CO2 monitors in the parking garage control the ventilation fans.
  

The stadium professional team conducted a detailed feasibility study to scope the installation of PV systems on the roof of Green Point Stadium. The study concluded that, although this was technically possible, it was not financially feasible within the given budget provisions.

Lessons Learnt on energy efficiency and climate change projects

The hosting of a carbon-neutral event in a developing country such as South Africa is a daunting and expensive undertaking. The lack of public transport infrastructure and renewable energy contributes to a significant increase in the carbon footprint compared to events in countries where this infrastructure is in place. In addition, South Africa is a long-haul destination, and international air travel increases the event’s carbon footprint. Visitors’ expected length of stay in rented accommodation is also projected to be longer, thereby further increasing the carbon footprint.

In developing its offset projects, Green Goal 2006 in Germany excluded any carbon emissions associated with international air travel to the event, as it maintained that travel outside of Germany lay beyond the scope of the German LOC’s mandate. Yet, international air travel is by far the highest source of World Cup-related carbon emissions.

The workshop on carbon offsetting convened by Host City Cape Town in February 2009 to scope potential carbon mitigation/offset projects, identified the following lessons:

• For projects to influence awareness and behaviour, they must be implemented (or at least partially implemented) by 2010. Therefore, the process should start at least two years before the event.
• An upfront commitment to fund the offsets is needed – one cannot rely on voluntary contributions during the event.
• Projects may initially need South African government funding.
• National Government needs to approach FIFA for carbon offset funding. This should happen early on in the process.
• Use a well-established and recognised international standard, such as the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), Gold Standard (GS) or Voluntary Carbon Standard (VCS), as it will provide credibility and integrity to the programme as well as keep overhead costs lower than when creating a home-grown standard.
• While National Government should play a strong oversight role in the carbon offset programme, the implementation of the programme should be outsourced to a carbon offset provider using a reputable voluntary carbon market standard (such as GS, CDM or VCS).
• Consider the geographic location of offsets: Should they be in all provinces? Should they be in South Africa only, or should they be expanded to the Southern African Development Community as well? Given the extent of the carbon footprint and the imperative for an African legacy from the event, it makes sense to invest in carbon offset projects in more than one country.
• Consider project scale, as this is important for transaction costs. There is merit in doing a few large, development-oriented projects (such as energy-efficient low-cost housing).
  

Significant financial resources are required to offset carbon emissions through sustainable projects. In the South African context, it is therefore more feasible to aim for a low-carbon event, focusing on measures to reduce energy requirements and increasing the share of public transport to reduce carbon emissions. Grant funding available from the Danish Government and DANIDA has acknowledged this constraint, and host cities will use the grant to invest in projects that will result in long-term energy savings as opposed to carbon offsetting.

Key references and source material

• Econ Pöyry AB, November 2008. Carbon Footprint for the FIFA 2010 World Cup™ (Oslo, Norway). Commissioned by Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad). ISSN 0803-5113.
• Econ Pöyry AB, August 2009. Carbon Footprint of Cape Town. Commissioned by Host City Cape Town.
• Sustainable Energy Africa. March 2009. A Green Goal 2010 Workshop: Scoping, planning and implementing the carbon offsetting action plan for Host City Cape Town (Cape Town).
• Sustainable Energy Africa and Steadfast Greening. July 2008. Green Goal 2010: Guidelines, Standards and Business Plan for Greening 2010 FIFA World Cup™ (Cape Town). Commissioned by Local Organising Committee (LOC). (Unpublished).
• Urban Environmental Management Programme and Green by Design WSP, 2008. 2010 FIFA World Cup™ Green Point Stadium: Environmental Performance Enhanced. (Pretoria, South Africa). Commissioned by Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, funded by the Royal Danish Embassy, South Africa.