Est. 2min 26-10-2007 (updated: 28-05-2012 ) urban_traffic_jam_1.jpg Euractiv is part of the Trust Project >>> Languages: Français | DeutschPrint Email Facebook X LinkedIn WhatsApp Telegram The United Nations believes that the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games are acting as a catalyst for the acceleration of environmental improvements across the city as it strives to balance rapid economic growth with health and environmental protection. The 7th World Conference on Sport and the Environment is taking place in Beijing 25-27 October 2007. The conference brings together representatives of governmental and non-governmental institutions, the United Nations, universities, international sports federations and candidate cities, as well as environmental organisations such as Greenpeace, to talk about environmental sustainability in the Olympic Games. The aim of the meeting is to communicate and review the environmental work undertaken by the Olympic Movement and the accomplishments of the Beijing 2008 Games. The United Nations Environmental Review on the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games was published on the first day of the conference. The report concludes that “significant strides are being made to ‘green’ the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games”. The report congratulates city’s environmental efforts on waste management, cleaner transport systems and water treatment, as well as new urban green belts, including a 580-hectare Olympic Forest Park. According to the report, solar power is also being extensively deployed at stadia and at the Olympic village and “the organisers have well-developed plans to re-use and recycle venues after the games close.” While acknowledging the environmental efforts, the report highlights the remaining concerns and missed opportunities that “there may still be time to rectify”. Air pollution remains a priority concern. “More than 1,000 new cars are being registered daily and with coal remaining a key energy fuel, some key pollutants remain stubbornly high,” states the UN. Other challenges include offsetting greenhouse gases, public awareness and under-utilisation of the city’s expanding public transport network. Read more with Euractiv Strong support for EU initiatives against doping in sport A pan-European conference has given strong support to the Council of Europe's current anti-doping activities and backed possible complementary EU initiatives in this area. Subscribe now to our newsletter EU Elections Decoded Email Address * Politics Newsletters Positions"Beijing has already achieved a great deal, an achievement even more resounding when one reflects on the enormous challenges facing one of the world's most rapidly growing developing economies and its principal cities," said the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Executive Director Achim Steiner, adding, however, that more could be done to, for example, harness the city's new and existing public transport infrastructure. Eric Falt from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) said that carbon offsetting is "increasingly a feature of high-profile events and is an initiative being adopted by a growing number of sports organisations and private sector entities. It is not too late for Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games (BOCOG) to openly declare a commitment on climate change and offsetting". BackgroundThe environment and sustainable development was highlighted by the Centennial Olympic Congress in Paris in 1994. Since then it has been included in the Olympic Charter as the third pillar of Olympism alongside sport and culture. The first Olympic Games to be held since then were at Lillehammer, which was widely regarded as a success story in terms of the environment. Sydney was also dubbed the 'green games', whereas opinion towards the Athens Games (2004) was more critical. Some argue that rushing to complete building work in Athens meant that the environment was not given the full attention it deserved. Recent examples of actions taken on to offset greenhouse gases include the Torino 2006 Winter Olympics' funding of environmentally friendly energy projects in developing countries. The Green Goal initiative of the 2006 FIFA World Cup adopted similar measures to cover greenhouse gases that could not easily be reduced at home. Timeline 25 Oct. 2007: German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety and the German Olympic Sports Confederation publish a Guide to environmentally-sound large sporting events 'Green Champions in Sport and Environment'. 25-27 Oct. 2007: 7th World Conference on Sport and Environment in Beijing. Further ReadingInternational Organisations United Nations Environment Programme:Sport and Environment United Nations Environment Programme:Beijing Olympics 2008 - An Environmental Review(25 October 2007) United Nations Environment Programme press release:Greening" of 2008 Beijing Olympic Games Impressive Says UN Environment Programme Report(25 October 2007) 7th World Conference on Sport and Environment:Programme(25-27 October 2007) International Olympic Committee:Olympic review magazine - Going green(25 October 2007) Governments German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety and German Olympic Sports Confederation:Green Champions in Sport and Environment - Guide to environmentally-sound large sporting events [DE]
