Qatar Air Conditioning - How Do You Plan on Dealing With the Heat?

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The World Cup is being held in Qatar this summer. The tournament has been moved to November so that it doesn't peak during the hottest part of the year. There are a number of ideas for dealing with the heat, including blowing cool air into open-air edifices and using grills under seats.

It’s supposed to be the first ever carbon neutral World Cup. Organisers Fifa and host Qatar say they have implemented sustainability initiatives, taken measures to limit carbon output and will offset greenhouse gas emissions by purchasing credits. Fifa has admitted, however, that the tournament’s carbon footprint will bigger than any of its predecessors, and experts believe emissions have been underestimated, calling into question the claim of carbon neutrality. Madeleine Finlay speaks to sports reporter Paul MacInnes about the environmental burden of building stadiums, flying in players and fans from around the world and keeping the pitches green, and asks whether football is really ready to face up to its carbon footprint. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod