The EnerGeek Olympic Games in Tokyo: a more virtuous carbon footprint? Written by: La Rédaction upcoming events:

The Tokyo Olympics have started, and their carbon footprint will be one of the challenges of this 2021 edition. The Japanese organizing committee wants to make Tokyo the greenest Games ever seen. Renewable energies, sustainable development, recycled medals and a flame fueled by hydrogen… Japan wants to demonstrate a virtuous organization. But how will the country succeed in its bet? And to what extent can the Games really be eco-responsible?

Tokyo: target 2.73 million tonnes of CO2

The scientific publication Nature Sustainability has classified the carbon footprint of the last Olympic Games. Surprise: despite the enthusiasm for sustainable development, the last Olympics were not the most virtuous. The last Summer Olympics in Rio in 2016 came second to last in the standings. And last place is occupied by the Sochi Winter Olympics, which took place in 2014. At the top of the ranking, the gold medal for the most responsible Olympics goes to Salt Lake City. The American city had organized the games in 2002. And these Olympics had the lowest carbon footprint.

In 2016, the Rio Olympics produced around 3.5 million tonnes of CO2. The Tokyo Olympics are aiming for a carbon footprint of “only” 2.73 million tonnes. This figure is still very high. Some countries do not even reach it in a year. If the organizers succeed in their bet, Tokyo would then become the greenest edition in the history of the Olympic Games.

Tokyo Olympics: a controlled carbon footprint

To improve their carbon footprint, the Tokyo Olympics have stacked the odds on their side. They have set up a sustainability committee. One of its members, Masako Konishi, is one of the leaders of the NGO WWF in Japan. According to him: “The Games should be a space to promote decarbonisation and sustainability. Otherwise, we are only adding to the pressure on the planet.” The issue of environmental impact also plays a role in the acceptability of the Games project in Japan. The population, rather opposed to the holding of the Games because of the health context, is also very mobilized in favor of sustainable development.

In concrete terms, the Tokyo JP sustainability committee has taken several measures to reduce the carbon footprint. First of all, the infrastructures of the athletes' village are powered by renewable energies. Then, the athletes and the equipment are transported to the Olympic sites using electric vehicles. Finally, and ironically, the health context helps the Olympic Games achieve their goal. The low attendance of spectators will greatly limit the carbon footprint of the Tokyo Olympics.

The energy puzzle of the Olympic sites

For the Olympic sites themselves, the committee had to face a major problem. The sites are too energy-intensive to run on 100% renewable energy. The committee has only committed to 30% green electricity to operate Olympic venues. It is mainly solar energy and biomass.

For the rest, the committee used carbon credits. The Tokyo Olympics will therefore use 5.1 million tonnes of CO2 in the form of green credits to balance their carbon footprint. For each MWh of electricity consumed by the Olympic venues, the committee undertakes to reinject 1 MWh of green electricity into the Tokyo metropolitan grid. Part of these carbon credits must also finance the energy renovation of public buildings and homes.

An Olympic edition under the sign of hydrogen

In a country that aims to become the hydrogen nation, the Tokyo Olympics could not ignore this source of energy. This is the first time that the Olympic flame has been fueled by hydrogen. Hydrogen comes from green electricity. It is produced in a solar facility located in Fukushima. Quite a symbol.

A fleet of 100 buses and 500 hydrogen cars is also used to promote hydrogen transport. Several hydrogen trucks are used to transport equipment. Finally, the city of Tokyo has installed 35 new hydrogen charging stations for vehicles.

Ahead of the Games, Japan has built a hydrogen plant in the city of Namie, northeast of Tokyo. Thanks to its solar panels, it produces 900 tonnes of green hydrogen per year. The Japanese approach is clear: the Games are an opportunity to demonstrate the potential of green hydrogen. And its contribution should effectively reduce the carbon footprint of the Tokyo Olympics.

The Tokyo Olympics Organizing Committee will release carbon footprint figures in August. For its part, the Paris 2024 Olympics organizing committee has already committed to limiting its carbon footprint. There is no doubt that the organization of the Tokyo Games will be rich in lessons.