Beijing 2022 eyes sustainability on 3 fronts

Beijing 2022 is working to achieve environmental, regional and human development goals during the preparation and running of the Games, according to a sustainability plan released by the organizers on Friday.

The plan, aiming to "create a new example for staging events and regional sustainability," features three key themes: "positive environmental impact, new development for the region and better life for the people."

They are supported by 12 actions, under which there are 37 key tasks and 119 specific measures, addressing the issues including air pollution prevention and control, water conservation, carbon neutrality, post-Games venue utilization, infrastructure and service capacity of the host cities, and healthy lifestyle for the people.

"The IOC welcomes the publication of the Beijing 2022 Sustainability Plan as it provides a comprehensive framework for the overall sustainability vision of the Olympic Games Beijing 2022," said Juan Antonio Samaranch, IOC Vice-President and Chair of the Beijing 2022 IOC Coordination Commission.

According to the plan, the regular power supply of the venues will be provided 100 percent by renewable energy and a cross-zone green electricity trading mechanism will be set up. Carbon dioxide will be used as refrigerants for making ice for the first time in the Olympic history during the construction of the National Speed Skating Oval. The campaign to engage 300 million people in winter sports nationwide will continue to encourage people to live a healthy life and boost the development of the winter sports industry.

"Beijing 2022 puts sustainability high on its agenda and regards it as an indispensable element of staging a 'green, inclusive, open and clean' Games and implementing reforms introduced in the Olympic Agenda 2020," said Zhang Jiandong, Executive Vice President of Beijing 2022 and Vice Mayor of Beijing Municipality.

To ensure that the plan is carefully implemented, a clear working mechanism is established where the implementation is guided by the central government, led by the local governments, overseen by the Beijing 2022 Organizing Committee, and collaborated on by all sectors of society.