Issues Addressed
Delivering the First ever commonwealth games with a carbon neutral legacy, minimising the carbon and climate impact of the event and ensuring a lasting positive legacy.
Features and Advantages
Certification – To achieve ISO 20121 Event Sustainability Management System accreditation throughout the planning and operations of Birmingham 2022.
Carbon – To develop a carbon management framework that challenges, manages and reduces the carbon requirements and impacts of the Games.
Circular Economy – To adopt a circular economy approach to the management of the resources we use, to gain maximum value while the resource or service is in use and ensure there is a recovery or regeneration plan for them at the end of their service life.
Conservation – To ensure that natural habitats and environments are conserved wherever possible. Birmingham 2022 will ensure that biodiversity net gain is achieved on capital projects under its remit, and will encourage biodiversity improvements through partnerships.
Application (Where & How)
Birmingham 2022 is seeking to be the first ever carbon neutral Commonwealth Games. The action plan identifies a number of sustainability commitments to achieve this:
Birmingham 2022 is seeking to be the first ever carbon neutral Commonwealth Games. The action plan identifies a number of sustainability commitments to achieve this:
Operational Carbon – monitoring all carbon associated with the day to day operations of the games within the defined carbon footprint boundary of Birmingham 2022. By learning from previous sporting events and games, using established methodologies and taking a reduction-first approach, the Games aim to have an overall reduced carbon footprint compared to a business-as-usual outcome. This will also be supported where necessary by carbon offsetting for unavoidable emissions.
Air Quality – Supporting air quality objectives by using efficient transport and energy resources across Birmingham 2022 activities and venues.
Sustainable Procurement – working to use the local supply chain, which will have a positive effect on local employment and economic growth.
Food and Beverages – Promoting locally sourced and sustainable food options.
Waste (Resources) – Prioritising and embedding the Circular Economy principles. Prioritising avoidance and reduction, allowing the development of management plans that remove, reduce, reuse recycle and redistribute responsibly.
Water – Promotion of sustainable water consumption.
Conservation – Ensuring natural habitats and environments are conserved wherever possible, ensuring biodiversity net gain at capital projects under Birmingham 2022 remit, and encouraging biodiversity improvements through partnerships. We will also work alongside local authorities to promote health and well-being through active travel and physical activities.
Economy and Community – Putting the local economy and community at the forefront. Sourcing local volunteers, undertaking schools’ programmes and development of the community brand.
Comments on the Solution
Birmingham 2022 will be the first Commonwealth Games with a carbon neutral legacy, linking closely with the City’s commitment to becoming net zero carbon by 2030.??The Games will champion sustainability in its widest sense, embedding the principle of sustainable development throughout the planning, implementation and post games legacy.?
