World Cup Warming Up 2022

The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar highlights the increasing risks of extreme heat and humidity for athletes, spectators, and outdoor workers, necessitating adaptations such as rescheduling the tournament to November and December. FIFA reports that the 2022 event will generate record-high emissions of approximately 3.6 million metric tons of CO2 equivalents, primarily from travel, though the organization aims for carbon neutrality through offsetting. The document also notes that heat-related risks will continue to affect future global sporting events in regions like Australia, Europe, Mexico, the U.S., and Canada.

• Extreme heat and humidity pose significant health risks to soccer players, as the body produces 15 to 20 times more heat during exercise. A 2012 study indicated that player body temperatures can increase by nearly 2°F in extreme heat, potentially leading to dehydration and hyperthermia.
• The 2022 World Cup in Qatar was rescheduled to November and December to avoid extreme summer heat. Had the event occurred in June and July, there would have been a 50–70% increase in hours with a wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) above 86°F and a 15⌓23% increase in hours exceeding 89.6°F.
• Outdoor workers in Qatar face occupational heat stress for at least four months of the year, which the International Labour Organization suggests may have contributed to migrant worker mortality rates.
• The 2022 World Cup is projected to emit approximately 3.6 million metric tons of CO2 equivalents, representing a more than 70% increase over the 2018 World Cup. The primary emission sources are travel (52%), infrastructure construction and operation (24%), and accommodations (20%).
• FIFA aims for the 2022 tournament to be carbon-neutral via offsetting and has committed to the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework to reduce emissions by 50% by 2030 and reach net-zero by 2040. However, Carbon Market Watch has questioned the efficacy of the offsetting plans and the accuracy of stadium-building emission accounts.

APA

Huggins, R., Murfree, J. R., & Dufrasne, G. (2022). World Cup Warming Up 2022. Climate Central. https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-matters/world-cup-warming-up-2022

Chicago

Huggins, Robert, Jessica R. Murfree, and Gilles Dufrasne. World Cup Warming Up 2022. Climate Central, 2022. https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-matters/world-cup-warming-up-2022.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Huggins |first1=Robert |last2=Murfree |first2=Jessica R. |last3=Dufrasne |first3=Gilles |title=World Cup Warming Up 2022 |publisher=Climate Central |date=21 November 2022 |url=https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-matters/world-cup-warming-up-2022 |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{huggins2022world, author = {Huggins, Robert and Murfree, Jessica R. and Dufrasne, Gilles}, title = {{World Cup Warming Up 2022}}, institution = {Climate Central}, year = {2022}, month = nov, url = {https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-matters/world-cup-warming-up-2022}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }