France media agencyJul 16, 2021 10:52:30 AM IST
The organizers of the Olympic Games are committed to making sustainability a priority at the Tokyo Games to show how countries like Japan – a leading carbon emitter – can work towards a greener future.
Her initiatives include equipping the Olympic Village with recyclable cardboard beds, using electricity from renewable sources and minimizing waste during competitions.
But like all major global events, Tokyo 2020 will leave an inevitable impression on the planet. Here are some key points to know about the environmental impact:
2.73 million tons of CO2
The latest official estimate of the Tokyo Games’ carbon footprint – more than some countries like Montenegro emit in a year.
This includes 1.5 million tons of CO2 that are generated by the construction or renovation of event locations and other infrastructure.
However, a ban on foreign viewers to limit the risk of infection with the coronavirus is not taken into account.
Excluding the emissions from air travel and accommodation, the total footprint should decrease by around 340,000 tons of CO2, say the organizers.
They will post a final rating after the games are over.
Carbon offsetting
The number is already lower than the Rio and London Olympics, and Paris has set an even more ambitious target of 1.5 million tons to host the 2024 Games.
Tokyo 2020 also says it intends to “offset” its footprint by purchasing carbon credits, which are used to fund local greenhouse gas reduction projects, equivalent to around 4.38 million tons of CO2.
But such programs are controversial. Activists are accusing the big business of paying for a quick fix rather than trying to overhaul their operations, and some offset projects have failed.
“Renewable” electricity
The organizers of the games have set themselves the goal of using 100 percent renewable electricity at the Olympic sites during the event.
But only 30 to 35 percent of that electricity will come directly from green sources, mostly solar and biofuel, a Tokyo 2020 spokesman told AFP.
“For venues that cannot obtain renewable electricity from energy suppliers, we will convert their non-renewable electricity into renewable electricity with the help of green electricity certificates,” said the organizers.
These credits certify that the same amount of clean energy has been fed into the country’s electricity grid or that an equivalent amount has been saved by renovating Tokyo homes to make them more energy efficient.
Reuse and recycling
Tokyo 2020 says that “efforts will continue to be made to ensure that 99 percent of the goods sourced for the games are reused or recycled” by renting and buying new items where possible.
The scope of this goal is limited, however, as it mainly relates to furniture for the Olympic Village and office and IT equipment for gaming operations.
Some furnishings have been specially designed for recycling, such as the beds in the Olympic Village, which are made from reinforced cardboard. Medals are made from recycled consumer electronics and pedestals are made from old plastic.
Waste management
With spectators excluded from almost all events at the Games – the first to be held almost entirely behind closed doors – the mountains of consumer waste typically left behind by large crowds are less of a concern.
The organizers have set themselves the goal of reusing or recycling 65 percent of the waste generated during the event.
There will be separate bins for plastic bottles, cans, paper, food waste at the venues and in the Olympic Village, with anything that is not sorted properly will be separated later.
Non-recyclable waste is converted into energy through incineration, say the organizers, while paper is preferred to single-use plastic whenever possible, for example in canteens.
