The hosting of the 2008 Summer Olympics Games has been a hot bed for controversy. As the host country China, in the heat of its industrial revolution, boasts almost 20% of the world’s total population, the environmental impact of its heavily populated hosting-city Beijing, has provoked its fair share of global concern. Before the start of the Games, one athlete declined participation in fear of harm from pollution, and four United States cyclists arrived in Beijing with masks on. As a rapidly developing nation with demanding energy needs AND as an Olympic host, China was put in a unique position to make an urgent transition towards more sustainable development. With only 1 percent of the country breathing safe air and thousands of athletes preparing to compete in Beijing, the Chinese government spent over $20 billion to improve air quality in anticipation for the Games. Air quality was just one of the many environmental concerns that the Chinese Government addressed in preparation for August 8, 2008. China pledged to make this year a “Green Olympics”: encompassing the overall goals of achieving a greener environment, creating “green stadiums” with energy saving features, and advocating “green consciousness” for the public while endorsing environmental protection and a healthier lifestyle.
Although pollution was still visible in the weeks leading up to the Olympics, a remarkable effort was made to clean up Beijing for a “Green Olympics.” In the report, China after the Olympics:
Lessons from Beijing, Greenpeace China highlights some of the many environmental accomplishments achieved at the Games¹ :
• The introduction of state-of-the-art energy saving technology in Olympic venues. For example, the Olympic Village will showcase various technologies such as solar hot water, geothermal, and solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. These represent a welcome shift away from a reliance on polluting fossil fuels.
• Beijing has increased its new vehicle emissions standards to EURO IV ahead of schedule for the Games in an attempt to improve air quality. This is amongst the most stringent emissions standards in the world.
• Beijing has added four new rail lines for the city, as well as a direct line within the Olympic Green to encourage public transportation.
• 20% of the Olympic venue electricity used during the Games will be purchased from clean wind sources supplied by the Guanting wind power station, Beijing’s first wind power generation station capable of generating 100 million kWh of electricity a year, which is enough to meet the demands of 100 000 families.
• Beijing has dramatically improved its sewage and wastewater treatment plants and water reuse systems.
• Along with other low energy vehicles, there will be a fleet of 3,759 buses running on Compressed Natural Gas at the time of the Games. This is one of the largest fleets of this kind operating in any city in the world.
• At the end of 2007, 16,000 boilers under 20 tonnes and 44,000 boilers under one tonne had been upgraded.
• By the end of 2007, 32,000 household heating systems had been converted from household coal heating to electricity.
• BOCOG’s dialogue and consulting with NGOs during the Games represent a positive step towards the increased collaboration between government and civil society in China.
• Sponsors have delivered specific environmental commitments. 100% of Coca-Cola’s 5,658 units of Olympic coolers and vending machines will feature HFC- free natural refrigerants. Haier will use solar powered HFC-free air-conditioners in the Olympic Village, tennis center, and other venues. Samsung has committed to making one of the official Olympics consumer phones, SGH-F268, 100% polyvinylchloride (PVC) and brominated flame retardants (BFR)-free.
Have the efforts paid off to truly make this year a “Green Olympics?” As the 2008 Summer Olympic Games carried on, much of the environmental criticism and concern shifted toward a sense of hope for China’s environmental policies. Along with its 51 gold medals, the country is experiencing a new concern for environmental protection. According to an article in the China Daily, “the China Environment Awareness Program (CEAP) created eight public service advertisements to raise public environmental consciousness toward a ‘Green Olympics.’” (http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/life/2008-08/21/content_6957815.htm). Chinese athletes are using their public spotlight to deliver green messages about sorting trash for recycling, saving water resources, protecting bio-diversity, and using more clean energy. Many athletes are also pledging environmental stewardship through www.greenlaces.org – a group that encourages athletes, organizations, and venues to be more earth friendly. A survey released by CEAP and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences this year shows that environmental protection is listed as China’s fourth most important social issue, after healthcare, employment, and the income gap between urban and rural areas.
For a rapidly growing industrial powerhouse like China, it is remarkable to see the 2008 Summer Olympics represent something unexpected: environmental awareness.
