Green Football? Realms of Carbon and the Politics of Decarbonisation

Abstract: This study develops the concept of 'realms of carbon’ to advance an understanding of climate politics in sites where carbon production and consumption, generating carbon emissions, is embedded in culture and identity. It does so by drawing on insights of three different theories, which in different ways, deal with dimensions of culture and identity to economic and political life. The study further works towards the world of football to deepen the theoretical concept, and further investigates in what ways interventions are emerging to govern these sites. To guide the work towards football, a policy-oriented theory of Steve Bernstein and Matthew Hoffmann developed for climate politics was utilised. The study pinpoints the need to uncover culture and identities' role in embedding the fossil. By investigating contemporary interventions the study gains critical insight on how realms of carbon can be disrupted, by inviting inhabitants to a realm largely decarbonised through the economy, politics - and cultural detachment from the fossil.