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Saving Earth: Brazil pledges ‘green’ World Cup

“The Cup will open having offset 100% of its direct emissions,” said Environment Minister Izabella Teixeira.

Afp May 28, 2014

The government has launched a program to offset that pollution by asking companies to give carbon credits in exchange for the right to advertise themselves as official ‘green seal’ World Cup sponsors. PHOTO: FILE

BRASILIA: Brazil announced a package of pollution-cutting measures aimed at making this year’s World Cup more environmentally friendly, ranging from an emissions-trading scheme to a ‘green passport’ smart-phone application.

“We want to score green goals,” said Environment Minister Izabella Teixeira. The World Cup and other major sports events generally leave giant carbon footprints. The government has launched a program to offset that pollution by asking companies to give carbon credits in exchange for the right to advertise themselves as official ‘green seal’ World Cup sponsors.

“The Cup will open having offset 100% of its direct emissions,” said Teixeira.

The government also launched a project called ‘green passport’ to encourage football fans to practice environmentally sustainable tourism.

Anticipating that many will want to explore the country between matches, the project proposes environmentally friendly travel itineraries from each host city, complete with a cell phone app.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 29^th, 2014.

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