Sustainability at the Rio Olympics: More Green Promises More Green Lies

Olympic games are becoming increasingly environmentally sustainable, at least on paper. Once again this year's Olympic games are touted as being the greenest games ever. In fairness, making such a massive event environmentally sustainable is a truly herculean undertaking.

Over the last twenty years there have been a number of efforts designed to make the games more green. In 1996, the Olympic Charter was amended to recognize the environment as the third pillar of Olympism. This was followed by clearly defined policies associated in the IOC's Olympic Movement's Agenda 21.

The Rio 2016 sustainability plan aspires to deliver on these lofty aspirations. The Sustainability Management Plan was released in August 2013 and it applies to both the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The plan is premised on the pillars of planet, people and prosperity. It seeks to integrate the principles, actions and projects related to sustainability when hosting major global events. It was developed with input from federal, state and municipal governments.

The plan includes a technical cooperation agreement with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Denise Hamú, the UNEP’s representative in Brazil explained the plan this way:

“Our goal is to integrate sustainability in all organisational processes, reducing the impact of the Games and setting an example of good practice for society as a whole. Together, sports and environment are powerful tools for sustainable development. For this reason, the UNEP has worked in partnership with the Olympic Movement over the last two decades.”

In November 2015 the Organizing Committee released a document called Focus: Rio 2016 Sustainability

"The sustainability planning of the Games was built on three strategic pillars – people, planet and prosperity - whose actions unfold along nine specific themes. In the PEOPLE pillar, initiatives focus on the themes of (1) engagement and awareness-raising, (2) universal accessibility and (3) diversity and inclusion. In the PLANET pillar, focus lies on (4) transport and logistics, (5) sustainable building, (6) conservation and environmental recovery and (7) waste management. Finally, the PROSPERITY pillar, which guides the whole Rio 2016 operation regarding (8) the sustainable supply chain and (9) management and reporting."