A new study from the University of Cambridge has laid bare the carbon footprint of mega events, showing that the travel of fans—not the stages or stadiums—drives the vast majority of emissions. The research, which analysed Coldplay’s 2024 European tour and projections for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, suggests that organisers have been focusing on the wrong levers to cut climate costs.
According to the study, spectator travel accounted for 97 per cent of emissions from Coldplay’s concerts and 82 per cent of the projected carbon footprint of the 2026 World Cup, which is being hosted across North America. The tournament, expanded to 48 teams, is expected to generate around 4.23 million tonnes of CO₂—roughly equivalent to Iceland’s annual greenhouse gas emissions. Nearly three million tonnes of that will come from fans flying to matches alone.
Fans, not venues, are the problem
“Effective climate strategies for mega-events like the World Cup go well beyond reducing operational emissions at venues,” said Shaun Larcom, the study’s corresponding author. “This is only a fraction of the overall footprint.” The findings challenge the prevailing emphasis on carbon offsets and venue greening, arguing that the biggest gains lie in changing how audiences travel.
Coldplay’s tour offers a case in point. While the band invested in solar-powered stage systems and other operational measures, researchers found that almost all emissions reductions came from audience behaviour. The band encouraged fans to compare lower-carbon travel options through its app and offered merchandise discounts for those who chose sustainable transport. As a result, fans cut their travel-related emissions by 48 per cent, contributing to an overall 46 per cent reduction in the tour’s emissions compared with a standard tour.
The study contrasts this with the approach of other artists. During Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour in 2024, private jet travel alone was estimated to have emitted more than 511,000 kg of CO₂—roughly equivalent to the annual emissions of about 120 gas-powered vehicles. That figure excludes emissions from transporting equipment or the millions of fans travelling to her concerts worldwide. Swift’s representatives have said carbon credits were purchased to offset travel emissions, a strategy also backed by celebrities such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Billie Eilish, and Coldplay.
Beyond offsets: systemic change
The Cambridge researchers argue that offsets alone are insufficient. “The biggest climate gains are likely to come from changing how audiences travel rather than relying on offsets alone,” they write. Instead, they propose a suite of measures that reduce emissions at the source: rail discounts, incentives for shared transport, and choosing event locations that minimise the need for long-haul flights.
They also suggest a small levy on broadcast audiences could help fund emissions reductions without placing the burden solely on spectators attending in person. This approach, they argue, would spread the cost across the millions who watch from home, while directly incentivising sustainable travel for those who attend.
The study’s implications extend beyond music and sport. As Europe grapples with the climate impact of its own major events—from the UEFA European Championship to summer music festivals in cities like Barcelona, Berlin, and Amsterdam—the findings offer a blueprint for organisers. For instance, the New Index Maps How Climate Change Will Reshape Europe's Farmland by 2100 underscores the continent’s vulnerability to rising temperatures, making emissions cuts all the more urgent.
Similarly, Climate Change Steals 56 Hours of Sleep Annually, Southern Europe Hit Hardest highlights the human cost of inaction. For European policymakers and event organisers, the message is clear: the climate cost of mega events is not inevitable, but it requires a shift in focus from offsets to audience travel.
As the 2026 World Cup approaches, the study’s authors hope their findings will spur organisers to rethink their strategies. “Emissions aren’t the remit of artists and sport stars alone,” they note. “Organisers of concerts and events like major football tournaments should also take responsibility for the indirect emissions generated by their events.”
