Manchester City Football Club’s overall emissions increased by 50.6% year-on-year, compared to a 31.8% reduction in the previous year.
In its latest sustainability report, the Premier League winning club explained that the team played more matches and more fans attending all events, including concerts at Etihad Stadium, especially following the Covid-19 lockdown.
“Inevitably, more matches played, greater numbers of fans and visitors, uplifts in all activity – from stadium tours to retail – results in greater environmental impact and higher CO2 emissions – an uplift of some 50%, though this is also measured against the 2022 significant reduction of almost 32%,” Man City wrote in its report.
“The year to May 2023 also measured full post-Covid returns to activity and business, including a 2022 concert season,” it added.
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The club aims to reach net zero by 2030 and said it is “on target” to reach its goals.
Man City reduced its scope 1 and 2 emissions by 19% against base years 2015 and 2019.
Aspects of its scope 3 emissions increased, for example, match day travel for Man City men’s first team increased by 3.7%.
For its women’s team, emissions increased by 45.9%.
Fran James from Football and Climate Change Newsletter stated the report is “not clear enough” to assume the club is on track to reach net zero by 2030.
He highlighted however that “6 of the 20 clubs” in the Premier League have a net zero commitment.
“More and faster action is needed by all clubs, with a collaborative effort and the biggest clubs leading the way,” James added.
“More transparency and accountability has a key role to play in helping achieve that,” he concluded.
