Rose Tinted?

There's an interesting interview with Matthieu Flamini, former Arsenal soccer midfielder and, now, 'biochemical entrepreneur' (https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/feb/04/mathieu-flamini-football-needs-to-stand-up-for-climate-change). Flamini declares 'football needs to stand up for climate change'. He suggests that one of the ways this can be done is by offering more locally-produced vegetarian options to visting teams and their fans at International soccer competitions. Getting more folk, at international soccer events, to eat vegetarian options would have small benefits. These savings, however, pale into insignificance, when contrasted with the 'greenhouse gas' emissions generated by transporting teams, their entourages and fans to events. Flamini also questions the appropriateness of sponsoring soccer competitions by fossil fuel conglomerates/petrochemical states. His current commercial interest is in levulinic acid. This compound, is derived from the degradation of plant cellulose. It's advocated as a precursor (building block) for a 'biofuel', ethyl levulinate. 'Biofuels' are claimed to be 'greener' than kerosene (jet aircraft fuel). Biofuels, however, generally need agricultural land to grow their crops. Also, when they are burned, their carbon dioxide goes straight back into the atmosphere. Coal, oil and natural gas, before the 'Industrial Revolution', were actually relatively permanent carbon stores. Levulinic acid is also a precursor for pharmaceuticals; plasticizers and cosmetics. These products are also not without potential environmental problems. Flamini's message is an appropriate one but soccer achieving a good outcome, isn't going to be as easy/painless as his choices suggest.