Beijing to Supply 2022 Winter Olympics With 100% Clean Energy
China’s State Council Information Office held a press conference on Thursday morning, at which the director general of the organizing committee’s planning department, Li Sen, introduced plans for green Olympics and the sustainable development of the Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympics.
Establishing a sustainable management system
For the first time in Olympic history, the organizing committee of the Beijing Winter Olympics has integrated three international standards – namely, a sustainable management system for large-scale events, an environmental management system and a social responsibility guide, for the committee to effectively manage the sustainable work across more than 50 business areas of all venues.
Creating ecological competition areas
Given that snow-related projects are mainly located in mountainous areas, the committee has taken measures to reduce impacts on the environment. It has carried out plant investigations and environmental impact assessments, formed protective measures from the aspects of avoidance, mitigation, reconstruction and compensation of the environment. The plants and animals in the competition areas are protected by measures including setting up special passages and laying artificial bird nests. Ecological restoration is carried out simultaneously, and rainwater and snowmelt water resources are collected, stored and recycled in various ways.
Implementing low-carbon management
The committer makes full use of the venues of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and builds low-carbon venues. All venues have reached the green building standard. During the Games, all venues will be 100% powered by green energy, and a low-carbon transportation system will be built. Energy-saving and clean-energy vehicles will account for more than 80% of the vehicles used throughout the Games.
Promoting regional development
The six years of preparation for the Beijing Winter Olympics saw rapid development in Beijing and Zhangjiakou. The Beijing-Zhangjiakou high-speed railway and the Jingli Expressway have now been completed and opened. The road network system has been improved, realizing the interconnection of transportation facilities. The two cities cooperated in sand and water control, obviously improving the regional environment and the layout of basic public facilities.
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Benefiting the people
Improving people’s life quality is an important aspect of sustainable development. The construction of infrastructure services in Beijing and Zhangjiakou has been accelerated. The development of ice and snow and other related industries has brought more jobs to the people. It has further promoted the popularization and promotion of ice and snow sports in China.
In addition, at the press conference, the Beijing Organising Committee released the “Pre-Competition Report on Sustainable Development of Beijing Winter Olympics,” which summarizes the main achievements of sustainable work during preparations for the Winter Olympics.
