On Tuesday, September 5th, the Santiago 2023 Corporation and the Ministry of the Environment signed a collaboration and made the official announcement of what will be the sustainability strategy for the most important multisport event in the history of our country.
The activity had the participation of Maisa Rojas, the Environment Minister; Jaime Pizarro, the Sports Minister; Antonia Illanes, the Sports Undersecretary; Harold Mayne-Nicholls, the Santiago 2023 Chief Executive Officer, among other authorities.
On the occasion, Mayne-Nicholls positively valued the joint work between the two institutions, indicating that “we hope that these Games will mark a path not only at a national level, but also in the whole world, so sustainability and caring for the environment become essential. In this way we’ll make possible that this type of event gives the community much more than just a competition.”
Maisa Rojas, head of the environment portfolio, added that “we’ve managed to make this celebration of sports also a celebration for the environment. Thus, the Games will be responsible for both its carbon footprint and climate change. We’ll measure this footprint and compensate for the emissions that cannot be reduced.”
Minister Jaime Pizarro also shared his satisfaction with the sustainability strategy introduction, noting that “the fact that this event is carbon neutral is excellent news. It will be possible for our athletes and Para athletes, along with the entire community, to enjoy these Games while taking care of the environment.”
Lothar Kommer Bruger School students join the activity. (Picture: Santiago 2023).
THE FUNDAMENTAL PILLARS OF THE STRATEGY
This sustainability plan is based on two main pillars, which are the main axis of all the initiatives and projects that comprise it: the first is the aim of carrying out a sustainable sporting event, and on the other hand, the reporting standards of Santiago 2023.
In this regard, the Organizing Committee of the Pan American and Parapan American Games, along with the Ministry of the Environment, took as a reference the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) included in the UN’s 2030 Agenda, to carry out the necessary actions to ensure the sustainability of the multisport event.
As a result, the Santiago 2023 Games will have the distinction of being the first sporting event of this magnitude to achieve carbon neutrality in our country. In addition, 80% of the plastic waste generated during the competitions will be recycled, also including all the materials used for the ‘Look of the Games’.
There are other important elements such as the use of electric buses in the Athletes Village, the construction of equestrian tracks with irrigation systems to reduce water consumption and the use of electric energy from renewable sources.
Written by: Carlos Ramírez Salazar.
