‘It is crucial we maintain the green momentum achieved during Qatar 2022’

Network
2023-02-13 | Since 1 Year

Eng. Bodour Al Meer highlights FIFA World Cup environmental sustainability efforts during WETC-2023

Doha, 13 Feruary 2023 - Qatar’s achievements in delivering a sustainable and environmentally-friendly edition of the FIFA World Cup were highlighted last week, as the country aims to build on the platform afforded by hosting the biggest sporting event in the region’s history.

Eng. Bodour Al Meer, Sustainability Executive Director, Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), outlined the compact tournament footprint, plastic reduction strategies and commitment to green projects both during Qatar 2022 and in the lead-up to the event.

“We delivered a new tournament hosting concept that future host nations will be able to follow to ensure environmentally-conscious event delivery,” said Al Meer, who was speaking at the Second World Congress for Engineering and Technology (WETC-2023), held at Qatar University.

“We must now work collectively to utilise the progress we have made to ensure sustainability remains a key national priority.”

Qatar’s staging of the FIFA World Cup included 70 projects related to sustainability, including green building practices for all stadiums – certified by the Global Sustainability Assessment System for design, construction and operations. Approximately 80% of all waste from the tournament was recycled, with the remainder sent to a waste-to-energy plant.

Tackling plastic waste was also prioritised through the One Tide programme, which the SC launched last year as one of their legacy projects. This led to all the plastic bottles sold at concession stands being made from 100% recycled materials.

Al Meer called on everyone to act on sustainability issues in future.

“It is crucial we maintain the green momentum achieved, as a result of hosting the World Cup,” she said. “We must continue to make progress that will benefit future generations. These matters are increasingly pressing in the context of the global climate crisis the world is facing.”

Al Meer continued: “The responsibility to make this happen lies with every single one of us here today. Everyone has the ability to make change happen – which is why events such as the World Cup are so important.”

The SC and FIFA will publish a sustainability report on Qatar 2022 in the coming months, said Al Meer.

“This report will provide a significant amount of data and be reviewed by an independent third party. It will tell the story of how we delivered positive outcomes across a vast sustainability mandate before, during and after the World Cup.”


Comments

Add Comment