What is UNEP’s involvement with the Olympic Games?
In 1994, the International Olympic Committee signed a cooperative agreement with UNEP and added a provision to the Olympic Charter on the necessity of preserving the environment. Since then, organizing committees of the Olympics Games have progressively increased their focus on environmental and sustainable development issues in preparing for and staging the Olympic Games. All cities bidding to host the Games are now required to present a comprehensive environmental programme.
UNEP’s role is to advise the IOC and Olympic organizing committees on incorporating environmental values in the Olympic Games.
How has UNEP contributed to the greening of the Bejing Olympics?
UNEP signed a memorandum of understanding with the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games (BOCOG) in 2005 in which we offered assistance to achieve environmentally friendly games. In 2007, following an agreement with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), UNEP measured the Beijing Games’ performance against the environmental commitments outlined in their bid. What were the key findings of the report?
Released in October 2007, the report cited Beijing’s accomplishments in waste water treatment, water sources protection and waste management, the phase-out of ozone-depleting substances, the creation of green Olympic venues and the expansion of the public transport system.
At the same time, it noted that there is room for improvement in areas such as air quality, offsetting of greenhouse gas emissions and public awareness-raising. The report also emphasized that the Games will have a positive environmental legacy if the new environmental standards and measures taken for Beijing are adopted countrywide. What would UNEP cite as the Beijing Games’ key achievements overall?
This is the first time that a developing country has placed sustainability and environmental management at the forefront of its efforts to host the Olympics. And with $17 billion spent on environmental initiatives to date, not including the economic costs of having to shut down the factories to minimize pollution several weeks before the games, Beijing’s environmental clean-up can be considered significant.
What does UNEP say about the air quality in Beijing?
Air quality is a concern and we believe the Beijing authorities have been employing all possible means to improve this for the Olympics. While noting Beijing’s efforts, UNEP’s report emphasizes that only long-term planning and the enforcement of measures over time will show significant results.
Will UNEP do a follow-up evaluation of Beijing’s environmental performance?
Yes. A post-Games study will be conducted to highlight the successes, identify the remaining challenges and put forward recommendations for post-Olympic Beijing, and for future Olympic venues. How will UNEP help ensure that China continues on with its greening initiatives post-Olympics?
The post-Games report will present recommendations for sustaining and expanding the environmental initiatives even to areas outside of Beijing. Through the UN office in China, there will be ongoing collaboration on environment and other sustainable development initiatives. Is UNEP currently working with any other Olympic organizers?
Yes. UNEP has signed an agreement with the Vancouver Organizing Committee to enhance environmental performance at the 2010 Winter Games. We are also working with the organizers of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Russia’s Black Sea resort of Sochi. In July, the organizers of the Sochi Games decided to relocate several Olympic facilities away from a protected wilderness area following UNEP recommendations. Why is sports important to environment protection and management?
Sports is a huge industry with a significant influence on people’s attitudes and actions, particularly among the youth. By working with sporting organizations, UNEP is able to catalyze the integration of environmental considerations in sports and leverage the influence of athletes and the popularity of sports to promote environmental awareness, as well as the development of environmentally-friendly sports facilities and equipment. How is UNEP working with athletes and sporting organizations in promoting greener sports?
A key aspect of our work is with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) with whom we have a cooperative agreement on the greening of the Olympics.
Beyond its involvement with the Olympic Movement, UNEP has also developed a wide-ranging programme with international sports federations such as the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM).
UNEP also worked closely with the local organizing committee of the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany and is collaborating with the organizing committees for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. In India, UNEP has signed alliances to help organize environmentally-friendly events with the 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune and the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.
UNEP also collaborates with the Global Sports on the organization of the Global Forum for Sports and Environment (G-ForSE), a biennial conference that gathers international sports organizations, top athletes, sporting goods manufacturers and other sectors. This year’s G-ForSE will focus on ‘Climate Change: Changing Our Carbon Footprint’.
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