This report analyses both the growth in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions caused by the recent expansion of European club football competitions and induced emissions from high-carbon sponsorship deals. The analysis finds the following.
- The increase in the number of football matches played per season in the three European club competitions - the Champions League, the Europa League and the Conference League - are leading to a rise in GHG emissions of about 209,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e). This is similar to nearly 150,000 average cars being driven for a year.
- The induced GHG emissions of the sponsorship deals for the Champions League are estimated to be about 6 million tCO2e, with two-thirds of the total being due to a single deal with Qatar Airways. This is more than three times the total for the match-related emissions for all three competitions.
Authors: Freddie Daley and Dr Stuart Parkinson
Publication date: May 2025
Number of pages: 20
Publishers: New Weather Institute (NWI), Scientists for Global Responsibility (SGR), and Cool Down: the Sport for Climate Action Network
Download pdf of report (via Cool Down website)
Blog:
Large rise in European football's GHG emissions
Image: NWI
