Tokyos commitment to sustainability will extend beyond the 2020 Olympics

Tokyo is integrating long-term economic, social, and environmental needs into the planning of the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games to avoid the 'white elephant' venues and financial failures of previous hosts. The city has transitioned from a fossil-fuel-dependent economy to a leader in renewable energy, achieving nearly 100% compliance with its 2020 sustainability goals, including reducing free plastic bags and increasing LED adoption. Progress toward 2030 targets includes reducing landfill waste, increasing renewable energy use, and aiming for 50% of new car sales to be zero-emission vehicles. Since 2016, Tokyo has reduced energy consumption by nearly 24% through the Tokyo Cap-and-Trade Program and green building policies. Specific sustainable initiatives for the Games include using CO2-free hydrogen from Fukushima Prefecture in the Athletes Village.

• Tokyo is planning the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games to avoid the common pitfalls of host cities, such as creating 'white elephant' venues and facing severe financial crises, by embedding long-term sustainability into all planning.
• The Tokyo Metropolitan Government is nearing 100% compliance with its 2020 environmental goals, specifically citing the shift to LED light bulbs and the reduction of free plastic bags in stores.
• Tokyo has established several targets for 2030, including a goal for 50% of new car sales to be zero-emission vehicles and a reduction in waste sent to landfills.
• Between 2016 and 2019, Tokyo reduced its energy consumption by nearly 24%, utilizing the Tokyo Cap-and-Trade Program for large facilities and green building policies to move toward a zero-emissions target.
• The 2020 Games include specific sustainable infrastructure, such as a building in the Athletes Village powered by CO2-free hydrogen produced in Fukushima Prefecture.

APA

Koike, Y. (2019). Tokyos commitment to sustainability will extend beyond the 2020 Olympics. World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/stories/nature-and-biodiversity/tokyo-sustainable-games/

Chicago

Koike, Yuriko. Tokyos commitment to sustainability will extend beyond the 2020 Olympics. World Economic Forum, 2019. https://www.weforum.org/stories/nature-and-biodiversity/tokyo-sustainable-games/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Koike |first1=Yuriko |title=Tokyos commitment to sustainability will extend beyond the 2020 Olympics |publisher=World Economic Forum |date=24 October 2019 |url=https://www.weforum.org/stories/nature-and-biodiversity/tokyo-sustainable-games/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{koike2019tokyos, author = {Koike, Yuriko}, title = {{Tokyos commitment to sustainability will extend beyond the 2020 Olympics}}, publisher = {World Economic Forum}, year = {2019}, month = oct, url = {https://www.weforum.org/stories/nature-and-biodiversity/tokyo-sustainable-games/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }