All 12 stadiums being used for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia have now received green building certification.

This means that every venue used for the tournament is at least the equivalent of LEED Certified (40-49 points), although different stadiums have been certified by different bodies.

For example, the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow – the centrepiece of the World Cup and final venue – was the first stadium to be certified in January 2018, receiving the BREEAM Bespoke standard.

All stadiums have been recognised for their own standout features (see below), which will be presented in more detail in an upcoming Green Standards Report compiled by FIFA and the Local Organising Committee in Russia. However, all venues have a number of common qualities:

• “State of the art” engineering equipment
• Utility automation systems
• Indoor LED lighting
• Water-saving sanitary equipment
• Publication transportation points less than 500 metres away
• 10% of construction areas made up of green spaces
• Safe refrigerants use
• Use of grease traps
• Drainage and stormwater systems
• Segregated waste collection

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Standout stadium features (Kaliningrad, Luzhniki and Rostov)

Kaliningrad Stadium

Automated systems for temperature, air and water Thermal and visual comfort strategies LED lights indoors 40% green area Water saving measure that can save 113,000 litres per match

Luzhniki Stadium

• LED lights saving 70% of electricity
• Water saving measure that can save 490,000 litres per match with full stadium
• 1,050 trees and shrubs and a 15,700m² flower garden in the perimeter
• Segregated waste collection
• Grease trap to reduce water contamination

Rostov Arena 

• Use of safe refrigerants
• Use of efficient materials for construction
• Special waste storage areas
• 13,071m² of green space – 15% of land
• Rainwater collection system

To read the sustainability credentials of all 12 stadiums, read the full report here.

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Having stadiums with green building values is one of the nine key values in the Russia 2018 Sustainability Strategy – one of three that focuses specifically on environmental sustainability:

Overall, the tournament has more than 150 sustainability initiatives, related to waste management, carbon offsetting and protecting biodiversity.

Of the latter, the Local Organising Committee has arranged events related to environmental protection for local people. One event, called Green Cities, asked 11,000 schoolchildren to present their own environmental protection projects.

And to offset the tournament’s carbon footprint – which has been calculated at 2.16 million metric tonnes by carbon asset organisation South Pole – FIFA is encouraging fans to do their own reporting and offsetting by offering the chance to win tickets to the World Cup Final.

The vast majority of emission is coming from fan-related activity, such as travel, accommodation and food and beverage consumption.