Nairobi,
11 February 2009 - It used to be "Swifter,
Higher, Stronger" but in the future
the Olympic motto may well include "lower"
at least as it relates to carbon and curbing
climate change.
From the 2014 Sochi
Olympics to the 2010 FIFA World Cup to be
hosted by South Africa to Norway's premier
car race starting tomorrow - major sporting
events around the globe are increasingly
looking at neutralizing their carbon footprint
as part of overall "greening"
strategies.
These tournaments are
the latest participants to join the Climate
Neutral Network (CN Net), an initiative
led by the United Nations Environment Programme
(UNEP) to promote global action and involvement
towards low-carbon economies and societies.
Launched a year ago,
the CN Net today has close to 100 participants
worldwide, including several countries,
cities, major international companies, UN
agencies and leading NGOs.
Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary-General
and UNEP Executive Director, said: "Whether
carried out on track and field or on ice
and snow, sporting events ignite the spirit
of achievement in thousands of competitors
and billions of spectators worldwide. It
is therefore heartening that this passion
for excellence increasingly encompasses
environmental performance, with sporting
organizations raising the bar ever higher
at each and every tournament".
"By joining UNEP's
Climate Neutral Network, they challenge
themselves and others to champion the climate
change cause through one of the most powerful
catalyzing forces on the planet-sport,"
he added.
The2014 Sochi Olympic
and Paralympic Winter Gameswill be held
in a unique natural setting between the
balmy shores of the Black Sea and the soaring
snow-capped Caucasus Mountains-an area known
as the "Russian Riviera".
The Sochi Olympics organizers
have set the goal of hosting "Carbon
Neutral Games", which will be pursued
by investing an estimated US$1.75 billion
in energy conservation and renewable energy,
upgrading transport infrastructure, and
by offsetting remaining greenhouse gas emissions
from the use of electricity, air travel
and ground transportation. Other environmental
initiatives include development of "green
belts" in the city and reforestation
of the Sochi National Park.
"Sport depends
on the environment. At the same time, the
sport industry depends on energy consumption
and is one of the greenhouse gases 'addicts'.
What we have is a great opportunity and
a great responsibility to deliver and promote
the model of climate neutral Olympics-reducing
our carbon footprint to zero. Driven by
our commitment, motivated by our predecessors
and inspired by the unique and diverse nature
of Sochi, we are proud to join the Climate
Neutral Network to work with the world's
best initiatives and to share the best experience
and practices," said Dmitry Chernyshenko,
President and CEO of the Sochi 2014 Organizing
Committee.
The news comes as UNEP
is set to launch on 18 February its environmental
assessment of the Beijing Olympic Games
of 2008. The report will be released during
the UNEP Governing Council/Global Ministerial
Environment Forum taking place in Nairobi
from 16-20 February.
The FIFA 2010 World
Cup - which will be staged at 10 venues
across nine South African cities-will be
the first-ever global soccer tournament
to be hosted by an African nation.
The FIFA 2010 World
Cup will have the largest carbon footprint
of any major event with a goal to be "climate
neutral"-estimated at more than two
million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent,
with international travel contributing more
than 65 percent.
Offsetting the domestic
carbon footprint of the tournament could
cost between US$6.8 and 12.0 million, while
offsetting international travel would, on
its own, be double this amount, according
to the recent feasibility study conducted
by Greening 2010 FIFA World Cup team.
The South African Government
is working on a carbon offsetting scheme
for the World Cup and on securing donor
funding to implement this. The Government
has also embarked on a multi-million dollar
initiative-the Public Transport Infrastructure
Fund-to upgrade bus and rail services in
time for the opening whistle in 2010.
Often likened to a "winter
Dakar", Rally Norway is the annual
extreme motor sports event with over 20
teams racing against each other on iced-over
and snow-covered tracks. This year's edition,
which will be held from 12-15 February in
Hamar, also aims to be the first "emission-neutral"
rally.
The organizers have
pledged to fully compensate for greenhouse
gas emissions resulting from fuel used by
competing vehicles, logistical support,
and air and road travel, and are challenging
competitors and other organizations involved
in the 2009 Rally Championship to join them.
Rally Norway 2009 will also feature a "Green
Room" where new technologies for low-carbon
vehicles and fuels will be featured.
Rally Norway's General
Manager Even Wiger said: "Rally Norway
aims to be the driving force to change the
motor sports to a low-carbon sport. The
drivers are role models, and the races are
test labs for new technology and more low-carbon
fuels. Our objectives are to be a driving
force to make all World Rally Championships
climate neutral, and hopefully this will
influence the car production and the fuel
production to low-carbon cars in general."
Two other sports organizations
from Norway-the Norwegian Grand Prix and
the Norwegian Golf Federation-have also
joined UNEP's Climate Neutral Network.
Staged in the picturesque
fjords of Norway's south coast, the Norwegian
Grand Prix is one of the most spectacular
powerboat events in the world and the largest
annual outdoor sporting event in Norway
with more than 100,000 spectators. The Norwegian
Grand Prix's vision is to be a global champion
of climate neutral boat sports, and to leave
the legacy of sustainability to future generations.
Finally, the Norwegian
Golf Federation (NGF)-the country's third
largest sports association with 122,000
members-aims to show that golf courses can
serve as good examples of sustainable area
planning in creating modern cultural landscapes
that contribute to environmental knowledge
and awareness raising. The Federation has
pledged to make its operations climate neutral
as of this year.
Paal Melbye, NGF's Head
of Department of Golf Facilities, Tournaments
and Events, said: "We would like to
join the CN Net because we believe this
will increase our visibility as a sport
federation that takes environment and climate
change seriously. The Network will also
give us valuable contact with like-minded
organizations, in particular the growing
members of sport federations and events
participating in the CN Net, from which
we can develop best practice."
Sports organizations
around the world are taking the lead in
implementing solutions to combat climate
change. Last October, representatives of
over 100 sports organizations attending
the 2008 Global Forum for Sport and Environment
(G-ForSE) co-hosted by UNEP adopted the
UNite to Combat Climate Change campaign,
pledging to reduce their carbon footprints
and encouraging sports personalities to
act as advocates for the environment.
UNEP has been actively
involved in work on sport and the environment
for well over a decade. UNEP works to promote
the integration of environmental considerations
in sports; use the popularity of sports
to promote environmental awareness and respect
for the environment among the public, especially
young people; and promote the development
of environmentally friendly sports facilities
and the manufacture of environmentally friendly
sporting goods.
Notes to Editors: For
more information about UNEP's Climate Neutral
Network visit http://www.unep.org/climateneutral
For more information about the 25th session
of the UNEP Governing Council/Global Ministerial
Environment Forum visit http://www.unep.org/gc/gc25
For more information about UNEP's Sport
and Environment initiative visit http://www.unep.org/sport_env
For more information about UNite to Combat
Climate Change campaign visit
http://www.unep.org/UNite/?page=home
Nick Nuttall, UNEP Spokesperson and Head
of Media
Xenya Cherny Scanlon, Information Officer,
Climate Neutral Network
