Over 2 million fans from around the world are expected to travel to France to watch the EURO 2016 football tournament in June next year. The tournament is the third largest sporting event in the world after the Football World Cup and the Olympics. Many millions more will watch the tournament on their televisions at home or at special UEFA fan zones. All of this travel at home and abroad will impact the environment.
As part of its commitment to respect the environment, UEFA commissioned an eco-calculator. According to a South Pole Group news release, the eco-calculator is a website that allows spectators to measure the climate impact caused by their travel from home to the various tournament revenues or special fan zones. Available in English, French and German, the eco-calculator even gives spectators the option to offset their travel emissions by supporting the Prony & Kafeate Wind Project.
South Pole Group member Climate Friendly, an Australian organisation that provides carbon-offset solutions, won the bid to deliver the eco-calculator. Climate Friendly is an Australian organisation that provides carbon-offset solutions. Climate Friendly has been working together with UEFA since 2007. Project manager Rob Asselman calls the project “an innovative solution” that helps people measure, reduce and offset their impact in a fun and shareable manner.