Tokyo Games’ climate consciousness a benchmark for sport events

This year, Tokyo Olympics has raised the bar for sustainability. The slogan of the sustainability plan is profound with climate consciousness: ‘Be better, together - For the planet and the people’.

Here’s some food for thought: as per the World Economic Forum, around 3-4 million tonnes of carbon dioxide is emitted through every Olympics. While this figure has raised many eyebrows, a conscious action has not yet been taken.

Turning the tide this year, Tokyo 2020 is aiming to be the greenest-ever Olympic Games. Notably, the overall carbon footprint of sports events will reduce if Tokyo Olympics sets the benchmark for future sports events.

The issue of sustainability has gained ground so far in 2021. Organisations and governments have started to consider climate change to be the most serious threat to humanity. This is likely to have been catalysed by the COVID-19 pandemic or the rising cases of bushfires and droughts, especially in Australia.

However, we still have a long way to go to save our planet from devastation and global warming.

Measures to make Tokyo Olympics sustainable 
Tokyo has played a trump card by aiming to turn Tokyo Olympics into the greenest game event ever. Organisers have announced that the Tokyo Sustainability plan is climate conscious. For example, all the equipment and commodities being used for the Olympics are made of sustainable material, wherever possible.

Some reports suggest that raw material from urban mines has been used to build accommodation, stadiums, and medals. Additionally, recycled plastic is being used to manufacture mobile phones. Above all, the beds provided in the athletes' cabins by the Tokyo Olympic committee are also made of cardboard.

The organisers claim that these beds would be sent for recycling after the event - even the mattresses are entirely recyclable.

Further, this year, hydrogen will fuel the Olympics torches and cauldrons. Japan is taking advantage of its hydrogen efficiency as hydrogen does not emit carbon dioxide.

Additionally, zero-emissions transport would be used in the games, like fuel cell electric buses, hydrogen power trucks, and battery shuttles.

Are net-zero emissions a reality now? 
Organisers have announced that the Tokyo Olympics would emit net-zero emissions, with Yuki Arata, Senior Director of Sustainability for the Tokyo Olympics, advising “as a major global event, the Olympic Games are responsible for reducing emissions and being a catalyst for sustainable development.”

A World Economic Forum report reveals that the previous London Olympics produced 3.3 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, and Rio Olympics produced 4.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide. However, the Tokyo Olympics organisers have pledged that the games would not emit more than 2.73 million tonnes of carbon dioxide.

According to them, a significant reason why the overall carbon footprint would be lesser this time than previous years is because overseas spectators have been banned due to the pandemic.

Are the sustainability pledges enough? 
The harsh reality is that, often, organisations make pledges but hardly fulfil their promises.

Several researchers have pointed out that the sustainability pledges made for the ongoing games are not enough. Moreover, experts are concerned about the possibilities of the sustainability pledge getting overshadowed by the excessive demand for an extraordinary spectacle. For instance, the Rainforest Action Network opines that the road to Tokyo 2020 has been paved through rainforest destruction, suggesting deforestation and endangered of several natural habitats.

While many sustainability measures may not be practical, the procurement of sustainable material for the Olympics spectacle may also be a challenge.

While the Tokyo Olympics aimed to set the benchmark for future sports events, organisers need to make a wholesome and sufficient plan to align the pledges with the actual outcomes. It is the first Olympics where sustainability has got much-deserved attention, but it is yet to be seen if the measures will make a real difference or are merely a commercial sham.

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