Tokyo, 4 June 2021 – The Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (Tokyo 2020),
together with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and Saitama Prefecture, today formally announced the results
of Tokyo 2020's carbon offsetting programme. With the support and cooperation of these two government
authorities and all participating corporations, credits equivalent to a total of approximately 4.38 million tonnes of
CO₂ were collected. This is expected to offset more than the total emissions from the Games, which are estimated
at approximately 2.73 million tonnes of CO₂, taking the Tokyo 2020 Games beyond carbon neutrality in driving
emissions reductions. This complements Tokyo 2020’s carbon reduction measures which have so far resulted in
the reduction of 280,000 tonnes of CO₂.
Helping combat climate change is one of the five major sustainability principles underpinning preparation and
delivery of the Tokyo 2020 Games. Reducing carbon emissions is key to combatting climate change; Tokyo 2020 is
playing its part reducing CO₂ emissions by minimising the amount of construction, conserving energy, and using
energy generated from renewable sources. These measures resulted in a reduction of 280,000 tonnes of CO2.
Remaining CO₂ emissions will be offset using these credits.1
In order to help reach these targets, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and Saitama Prefecture have solicited
credits from eligible companies in their respective areas under cap-and-trade procedures.
2 These initiatives yielded a significant response, and Governor of Tokyo KOIKE Yuriko and Governor of Saitama Prefecture ONO Motohiro today presented the resulting credit certificates to Tokyo 2020 President HASHIMOTO Seiko.3 These credits meet criteria defined by Tokyo 2020 (see the Tokyo 2020 Pre-Games Sustainability Report, linked at the end of this release, for more detail). While this is not the first such initiative of its kind, it is the first time in the history of the Olympic and Paralympic Games that hundreds of businesses and organisations have been engaged to accumulate carbon offset credits on this scale, with more than 200 local businesses and municipalities
participating.
The Tokyo 2020 Carbon Offset Programme
Going forward, Tokyo 2020 will monitor the amount of CO₂ emitted during the Tokyo 2020 Games and will
continue to reduce CO₂ emissions as far as possible through energy-saving measures. Final carbon figures will be
provided in the Tokyo 2020 Post-Games Sustainability Report to be published later this year.
Credit Collection Periods
Tokyo: 24 July 2018 – 7 September 2020
Saitama: 1 November 2018 – 7 September 2020
Each local authority implemented their own carbon reduction initiatives: the Tokyo Metropolitan Government
organised a "Tokyo Zero Carbon 4 Days in 2020" effort and Saitama Prefecture implemented "Zero Carbon 3 Days
in 2019" to solicit credits. 4
Contributions to SDGs
Of the 17 Development Goals set out in the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goal programme, this initiative
contributes to No. 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), No. 13 (Climate Action) and No. 17 (Partnerships for the Goals)
Tokyo 2020 Sustainability Efforts
See https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/en/games/sustainability/
Carbon Offset Programme for the Tokyo 2020 Games
See https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/en/games/sustainability/sus-plan-carbonoffset
1 Carbon offsetting is a method in which measures are taken to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases such as CO₂, with
all or part of emissions generated offset by emission reductions elsewhere.
2 Cap-and-trade procedures refer to government energy programs intended to reduce emissions by incentivizing
businesses to invest in clean energy alternatives. Government regulatory authorities issue participating businesses with
permits that limit, or cap, permissible CO₂ emissions. Businesses that surpass the cap are taxed, while those that reduce
their emissions may sell or trade unused credits.
3 These certificates are ceremonial; Tokyo Metropolitan Government and Saitama Prefecture are not presenting Tokyo
2020 with credits themselves but rather have designated the credits generated and collected under this programme
as limited to the purpose of "carbon offsetting for the Tokyo 2020 Games."
4 "Tokyo Zero Carbon 4 Days in 2020" is the program that offsets all CO2 emissions that are expected to be generated
across Tokyo during the four days of opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
For more information: Tokyo 2020 Online Press Room
International Communications
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