Tuesday 7 August 2007

RWC 2007 stadiums go green

The organising committee of the Rugby World Cup (to be held in France from 7 September to 20 October 2007) held a press conference to announce its plans - developed in conjunction with ADEME - to reduce the environmental impact of the event.

Apart from recycling of waste, the distribution of an 'eco-supporter passport' and the preference for transporting players by rail, the most significant initiative is probably the carbon balance sheet.

This demonstrates that the World Cup will generate the equivalent of 570,000 tonnes of CO2 - 'equal to the annual output of Samoa' - one of the participating nations.

"Movement of people is responsible for 84% of the emissions" - says ADEME - the French Environment and Energy Management Agency.

The other notable point is the conversion to solar power of several stadiums - notably Geoffroy-Guichard at Saint-Étienne.

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