Today I want to share about the success of a FIFA World Cup ‘Green’ Project that was undertaken by the City of Cape Town.  If you are a ‘green’ supporter, this would make for an interesting read, even if a bit long. As part of the preparation for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ a greening programme was implemented to make the soccer world cup as environmentally responsible as possible.

The programme, called Green Goal 2010, is supported by the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT), Norway, Germany and the United Nationals Environment Programme (UNEP) and was arranged by FIFA’s Organising Committee in collaboration with local government.

What is the Green Project all about?

It incorporated measurable, sustainable development principles into every aspect of the event, including energy, waste, water, transport and hospitality.

An action was developed to implement the programme, with indicators, milestones, budgets, potential partners, timelines and targets for 43 projects that formed part of the event.

This was developed after a series of German sponsored workshops and discussion forums with experts, stakeholders and interested parties, and is a collaborative output between the Western Cape Provincial Government and the City.

The action plan focuses on stadium and city-wide greening initiatives, biodiversity awareness raising, landscaping issues, green procurement processes and ratings for the hospitality industry, carbon offset targets, integrated waste management, the new urban park and communication.

Why the Green Project?

The aim was to make 2010 the greenest world cup yet, not only to offset the impact that the event itself will have on the environment (such as greenhouse gas emissions), but to set the standard for future events of this kind.

The Green Goal 2010 action plan identified nine areas with projects for implementation. These are:

1. Energy conservation and climate change – Minimise the carbon footprint of the 2010 event
   1. Determine the carbon footprint of the 2010 event
   2. Identify and implement carbon offset project(s) in Cape Town/Western Cape
   3. Install energy efficient technologies in stadia and training venues, and at fan parks and Public Viewing Areas (PVAs)
2. Water – Minimise the use of potable water and promote conservation of water resources
   1. Identify alternative sources of water for irrigation of the Green Point Common
   2. Install water saving devices in the stadium and at the training venues
3. Integrated waste management – Reduce, reuse and recycle waste
   1. Operational waste minimisation efforts in the stadium, fan parks, PVAs and training venues in the run-up and during the event
   2. Green Goal branding of recycling bins and waste minimisation signage
   3. Recycling drop-off centres in the CBD and Atlantic Seaboard
4. Transport, mobility and access – Promote energy efficient and universally accessible means of transport that also minimise air pollution
   1. Develop bicycle and pedestrian facilities
   2. Develop public transport infrastructure
   3. CBD bicycle rickshaw services
5. Landscaping and biodiversity – Promote indigenous landscaping and enhance biodiversity
   1. Indigenous gardening training programme for Urban Park staff
   2. Biodiversity showcase garden in Urban Park
   3. Student landscape design competition for Mouille Point beachfront and promenade
   4. City beautification and tree planting campaign
6. Green building and sustainable lifestyles – Promote environmental awareness, sustainable lifestyles and environmentally efficient building practices
   1. Green Point “eco-park” and Smart Living Centre
   2. Monitor and implement Green Review recommendations for Green Point and Athlone stadia
   3. Cape Town Green map
   4. 2010 Volunteers Green Goal training module
   5. Green Goal soccer club competition
   6. Soccer and environment educational poster and guide
   7. Green Goal short films
   8. Anti-littering and waste recycling campaign
   9. Drink tap water campaign
   10. Green procurement for 2010 events
   11. Green building handbook and toolkit
   12. Greening of 2010 events
7. Responsible Tourism – Promote responsible tourism for 2010 and beyond
   1. Green Passport: Code of responsible conduct for visitors
   2. Environmental accreditation system for accommodation sector: GreenStaySA
   3. Responsible tourism awareness and training
8. Green Goal Communications – Communicate the message of Green Goal to residents and visitors
   1. Green Goal workshop series
   2. Green Goal brand development and activation
   3. Briefing for potential Green Goal funders
   4. Green Goal
   5. Creation and implementation of marketing and communications plan
   6. Green Goal ambassadors
   7. Green Goal e-mailing list & project website
   8. Online press resources and materials
   9. Green Goal 2010 exhibition
   10. Green Goal 2010 awards
9. Monitoring and measurement and reporting – Monitor, measure and report on progress with the implementation of Green Goal
   1. Procedures & methodologies
   2. Targets & baseline studies
   3. Annual reports and legacy report

Did Cape Town score a ‘Green’ Goal?

The ‘green’ programme drew on Germany’s World Cup experience in 2006 in which the organisers reduced the event’s greenhouse gas emissions by increasing energy efficiency and using renewable energy wherever possible. If all the green programme’s objectives were achieved, it is a most admirable programme and certainly an example of how ‘green’ projects can be. I just hope that the positive impact of the ‘green’ programme will benefit the City of Cape Town for years to come after the soccer world cup.

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About the author: Linky van der Merwe is a Microsoft Project Management Consultant and an IT Project Manager with more than 11 years Project Management experience.

She consults with business owners and service professionals about project management and project processes, best practices and successful delivery through projects.  She can be reached at linky@virtualprojectconsulting.com