2010 Winter Olympics Score Bronze for Climate Change Efforts

A Climate Change Scorecard issued by the David Suzuki Foundation awards "bronze" to Vancouver's climate change efforts for the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Intended as constructive feedback, the scorecard [pdf]--based on an in-depth study--looks at how well the Vancouver Olympics addressed its own climate impact along with how it did in engaging others on the issue of climate change. And the verdict indicates things are reasonably good, but they could have been even better.

Breaking Down the Scorecard:

The study breaks Vancouver's efforts down into ten categories: goals, transparency, measuring impact, venues, energy use, transportation, emissions reductions, offsets, mobilizing sponsors, and public engagement.

The good news:

• Impressive venues have a comparatively reduced carbon footprint from previous Olympics
• Most of the Olympics energy will come from clean sources
• The Vancouver Olympic Committee was able to mobilize several sponsors with emissions reduction initiatives
• The overall reduction of greenhouse emissions will be around 15%

The bad:

• Lousy track record in getting the climate change and clean energy message out to the rest of the world
• Offsets for remaining emissions are accounting for less than half of predicted amounts

The so-so:

• Vagueness in articulating some emissions targets has made accountability difficult
• While good in some areas, there were still plenty of missed opportunities in the transportation sector--especially in terms of longevity once the Olympics have ended.

The Suzuki Foundation praised some of the technology being used at venues, such as a system that recaptures heat from the sewage system at the newly built Vancouver athletes' village.

But the report was also prepared before all variables could be taken into account. This includes the unpredictably warm weather, and the subsequent trucking-in of snow from colder areas of the province.

"The fate of winter sports, and the potential to host winter Olympics in the future, depend on choices we make today to address climate change," says David Suzuki. "I’m inspired by the efforts of Canadian Olympic athletes, and I encourage the federal government and all Canadians to follow their lead and be part of the solution to climate change."

Source: David Suzuki Foundation and Mother Nature Network

A complete synopsis of the scorecard can be found here.