Green spaces
Initiative description: Mitigating air pollution from the operation of stadiums, training sites and overlay infrastructure by developing green spaces in and around sites, leveraging the SC Tree Nursery.
Vast, open parklands and green spaces have been created around stadiums as part of the environmental legacy of the event. Developing green spaces not only creates amenity value and improves aesthetics but also mitigates local air pollution. Plants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen, increase humidity, and can passively absorb pollutants through their leaves and in their root-soil systems. Certain plants also enhance habitat for local fauna.
Landscaping covers nearly 85% of the total area of all precincts, and 75% of plants used in landscaping are native to the region. These plants are drought tolerant and have low water needs. These help to combat desertification and provide food and shelter for fauna such as lizards and local and migratory birds.
Thanks to landscape conservation planning efforts, water consumption at operational stadiums is 40% lower than international requirements and parkland irrigation systems use 100% recycled water.
For those stadiums where landscaping has been completed, such as Al Bayt Stadium, state-of-the-art amenities such as cycling tracks, basketball and tennis courts, exercise stations, and play areas, are already available for the public to enjoy, and will be available to communities for years to come.