South Africa is aiming to host as green a 2010 Soccer World Cup as possible,
government said on Thursday.
'We are committed to ensuring that South Africa learns from the Green
Goal experience, which vastly reduced the environmental impact of (this
year's) World Cup that was held in Germany,' Environment Minister Marthinus
van Schalkwyk said in a statement.
He has recently held discussions in Germany with that country's federal
environment minister, the European Environment Commissioner, and key role-players
in the German Green Goal initiative.
'South Africa is committed to greening the 2010 World Cup by focusing
on the basis of four pillars: conservation of water and energy, waste
management, transport and mobility, and a carbon offset campaign.'
Among the techniques used by Green Goal during the 2006 World Cup was
the use of renewable energy at stadiums, and greater use of public and
non-motorised transport by fans. These measures substantially reduced
greenhouse gas emissions.
The organisers also offset emissions in Germany by supporting clean energy
schemes in India and South Africa.
