Lynne Brown (then) City of Cape Town Executive Mayor explained, “The joint effort by the province and the city makes it clear to the FIFA World Cup Organising Committee South Africa and the world that we are excited and committed to host not only a spectacular 2010 event from a logistical and organisational point of view, but also to stage an event which is based on the premise of sustainable development.”
Initial areas to be addressed included the reduction and recycling of waste, promotion of energy efficient transport, environmental awareness, sustainable lifestyles and environmentally efficient buildings.
The City of Cape Town is working with the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism who prepared a framework based on Germany’s World Cup greening model. After focussing on energy efficiency and renewable power, the 2006 World Cup produced around 100,000 tonnes of carbon, 8 times less than the predicted 2010 figure.
One year on from the launch, nine specific target areas have been identified; energy and climate change, integrated waste management, transport, land-scaping and biodiversity, green building and sustainable lifestyles, responsible tourism, green goal communications, monitoring and reporting.
Of the 41 Green Goal projects that were devised last year, over 80% are currently underway, with the remaining few in the final stages of development. The majority of the projects focus on environmental awareness both for South Africans and travelling supporters.
Dan Plato, City of Cape Town Executive Mayor insists the Green Goal project is well on the way to achieving its dual aims of mitigating any negative impact on the environment whilst also leaving a ‘positive environmental legacy’.
The Green Goal progress report indicated that R6 million (£508,000) has been raised by the City of Cape Town which has leveraged an additional R8 million (£677,000) in grant funding.
However, it will cost £4-£7 per tonne to offset the carbon produced, making it financially impossible to create a carbon-neutral event.
Premier of the Western Cape, Helen Zille elaborates, “It is, therefore, clear that significant finances and support are needed for further mitigation projects if we are to make a more meaningful impact in reducing the carbon footprint.”
