UEFA Euro 2024:
Which country will champion climate?
Euro 2024 set to be the ‘greenest ever’ with supporter emissions for this summer’s championship down considerably, but teams are missing the opportunity to lead by example.
Europe’s leading national football teams competing in Germany in the summer 2024 could cut their travel emissions by nearly 60% if they avoid flying.
After coming under criticism four years ago for hosting the Euros in multiple different countries, UEFA has sought to cluster group stage matches to reduce the amount of travelling done by teams and fans. Deutsche Bahn for its part is offering fans with a match ticket reduced prices for travel around the country. It has never been easier to travel to a major sporting event by train.
National football teams should seize the opportunity of the EURO2024 to champion sustainable mobility choices and reduce their travel emissions. They should join the efforts of UEFA to reduce the tournament emissions.
In March 2024, Travel Smart, and 14 other organisations sent letters to the national football federations to ask the teams to avoid flying during the Euro 2024. We received answers from 5 national federations. Only 2 of them, the German and the Swiss teams, committed to avoid flying during the group phase in Germany. For its part, the Portuguese team will shift to road for 2 out of the 3 games, travelling by coach. To travel to Germany, the Swiss team will not take a plane, and will travel by train.
Take a look at the letters:
