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Sustainability Projects Combat Waste, Pollution at Brazil World Cup(Targeted News Service Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) NAIROBI, Kenya, July 10 -- The United Nations Environment Programme issued the following news release: Municipalities across Brazil have implemented a number of sustainability projects during the 2014 FIFA World Cup, ranging from the environmental certification of stadiums to the compensation of direct emissions of greenhouse gases generated by the event. Other activities mandated by Brazil's Operational Plan for Environment and Sustainability included programmes fostering sustainable tourism, organic food production and family farming, as well as promoting the social inclusion of "waste pickers". These activities combine environmental sustainability, social inclusion and income generation with a high public visibility. The projects were coordinated by the Ministries of Environment, Sport, Tourism, Social Development and Fight against Hunger, and Agricultural Development, and were supported by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in partnership with states and host cities. Waste management and recycling Six host-cities across Brazil were awarded federal government support of US $1.36 million for the inclusion of "waste pickers" - workers who clear, sort and recycle waste following the World Cup's large events. About 1,400 waste pickers worked in Belo Horizonte, Curitiba, Fortaleza, Manaus, Natal and Sao Paulo around the arenas and the FIFA Fan Fests, as well as in other cities with funding from local governments. The waste collected was sent to recycling cooperatives. In Fortaleza, for example, 37 tonnes of recyclable material were collected through 04 July alone. In addition, the National Social Development Bank opened a credit line for the permanent implementation of this selective collection. Projects in Brasilia, Curitiba, Porto Alegre and Rio de Janeiro were approved in the amount of US $35.5 million. Certification and sustainable management of arenas All football arenas utilized in the 2014 World Cup followed models of sustainable construction and management in line with international certification. Of the 12 arenas, six have achieved the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design): Castelao (Fortaleza), Fonte Nova (Salvador), Arena Pernambuco (Recife), Arena Amazonia (Manaus), Maracana (Rio de Janeiro) and Mineirao (Belo Horizonte). The Belo Horizonte Arena was the first stadium in Brazil to receive the platinum seal of sustainability, the highest level of LEED certification. Three other arenas have already submitted their reports, which are in the final analysis by the Green Building Council, and the remaining three are nearing completion of final reports. Solar Power Plants were installed in three stadiums, and will be installed in the National Stadium of Brasilia by the end of 2014. In addition, the Arena das Dunas in Natal is the first stage in Brazil to obtain the INMETRO Certification Energy Efficiency, recognizing its efficiency and energy savings. Organic and sustainable agriculture The 2014 World Cup in Brazil launched a campaign to foster "conscious consumption", in particular through the promotion of organic and family agriculture products. Some 18,000 arena volunteers received snack kits of organic foods - including juices, nuts, cereal bars, dried fruit and biscuits - purchased by the Brazilian government from farming cooperatives and associations. In addition, healthy and sustainable food was available for purchase at Brazil Organic and Sustainable Kiosks. Altogether, about 60 groups and associations of producers, representing some 25,000 farming families across the country, were selected as suppliers. The kiosks were installed in tourist areas and in local circuits of organic fairs. The goal, beyond marketing, is to create an increasingly organized and structured supply chain for sustainable and organic food. Compensation and mitigation of emissions Prior to the World Cup, the Brazilian government, through the Ministry of Environment, held a carbon emissions inventory and defined a strategy of clearing and mitigating emissions. The Low Carbon Initiative Cup was launched in April 2014 with a public call for Brazilian companies to donate carbon credits to offset the emissions generated by the World Cup. By 10 July, Brazil had compensated nine times more than the estimated direct emissions of greenhouse gases generated by the event - some 545,500 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2eq). The value exceeds the estimated 59,200 tCO2eq expended during activities such as construction, energy use in stadiums and emission of official vehicles. Sixteen companies have joined the public call for donations of carbon credits to date. Membership involves no financial transaction and the companies that participate receive the Low Carbon Stamp, in addition to being named official donors of carbon credits for the World Cup 2014. States and host cities also developed activities aimed mitigating emissions, including certification of arenas, waste management and recycling plans, initiatives for urban mobility, the use of less-polluting fuels, such as biodiesel and ethanol, bike lanes and bike sharing projects. In this context, the city of Salvador developed the Green Goal program, through which trees are planted for each goal in the local arena. Green Passport campaign Launched before the World Cup, but with an eye towards long-term sustainable tourism, the Green Passport campaign aims to establish more sustainable patterns of consumption and production among tourists who travel in Brazil. It is coordinated by the government of Brazil in conjunction with UNEP. Under the slogan "I take care of my destination", the campaign has attracted a growing stream of visitors - about 1,000 new hits per day - in communication channels such as web, mobile app and social media. On Facebook, the Green Passport page has reached over 30,000 fans since the beginning of the tournament. Through online tools, users can find responsible travel tips, share their experiences and access the Green Passport Routes - over 60 tour options that encourage sustainable tourism. The campaign, with the support of Itau Unibanco, also promoted the Sustainability Journeys, a seminar on eco-efficiency practices for hotels, bars and restaurants which gathered nearly 200 entrepreneurs in five host cities. The Green Passport will continue to pursue its mission of engagement after the World Cup, providing information and awareness aimed at accelerating a shift towards sustainable consumption and production. For more information, please visit: www.green-passport.org Contact: Joao Goncalves - 55 11 98255.3876; [email protected] Marcelo Tavela - 55 61 3038.9237; [email protected] TNS 30FurigayJane-140710-4793473 30FurigayJane (c) 2014 Targeted News Service |