A new study conducted by researchers at the University of Cambridge suggests that current climate strategies for global mega-events are overlooking the primary driver of their environmental footprint: spectator travel. By analyzing the 2026 FIFA World Cup and Coldplay’s 2024 European tour, the report found that fan transport accounts for the vast majority of carbon emissions, representing 82 percent of the tournament's projected footprint and 97 percent of the emissions from the band’s concerts. The findings suggest that organizers have been focusing on the wrong source of emissions, relying too heavily on carbon offsets rather than addressing the travel habits of their audiences.
Shaun Larcom, the study’s corresponding author, emphasized that effective climate strategies for events like the World Cup must go well beyond reducing operational emissions at venues, which he notes is only a fraction of the overall footprint. According to the research, the expanded 48-team World Cup is expected to generate approximately 4.23 million tonnes of carbon emissions in less than two months, a figure roughly equivalent to the annual greenhouse gas output of Iceland. Of that total, the study estimates that around three million tonnes will come solely from fans flying to attend matches.
Coldplay’s European tour provides a similar case study. While the band invested in measures such as solar-powered stage systems, researchers found that almost all of the tour’s emissions reductions were actually driven by changes in audience behavior. While Coldplay has become a high-profile advocate for carbon offsetting and removal projects, the study argues that such measures are not enough to address the scale of the problem. Other artists have faced even greater scrutiny; for example, during Taylor Swift’s 2024 Eras Tour, private jet travel alone was estimated to have emitted more than 511,000 kg of carbon dioxide, which is equivalent to the annual emissions of about 120 gas-powered vehicles. This figure does not even account for the emissions generated by transporting equipment or the millions of fans traveling to her concerts globally. While representatives for Swift, as well as celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio and Billie Eilish, have pointed to the purchase of carbon credits to offset these impacts, the Cambridge researchers maintain that these efforts are insufficient.
To achieve real sustainability, the researchers argue that organizers of concerts and major sporting tournaments must take responsibility for indirect emissions by making lower-carbon travel more accessible and attractive. They propose specific measures to reduce emissions at the source, including offering rail discounts, providing incentives for shared transport, and choosing event locations that reduce the need for long-haul flights. Furthermore, the study suggests that a small levy on broadcast audiences could help fund these emissions reductions without placing the entire financial burden on spectators attending in person. As Larcom concludes, true sustainability is achieved when organizers actively influence the wider system of fan behavior, from transport and routing to fundamental decisions regarding the scale and design of an event.
