23.02.2006
Newsletter 01/06
N E W S L E T T E R - 01/06
Dear reader,
you’ll have experienced it: Be it the Olympic Games or Football World Cup, downhill skiing or formula one racing – major sporting events generate great enthusiasm. Events are assuming ever greater proportions and are attracting more and more spectators. Attendant environmental impacts are inevitable. However, to keep these as small as possible, the Öko-Institut is now developing practical guidelines for venues and organizers together with the German Sport University Cologne. Read about it here! We also report on what’s happening at Green GoalTM, the environmental action plan developed by the Öko-Institut for the 2006 FIFA World CupTM, and which cookers and ovens the EcoTopTen consumer information campaign recommends. Wishing stimulating reading as ever,
your Katja Kukatz, 23 February
CONTENT
F O C A L T H E M E S
- Major sporting events: How can the environment score?
- Green Goals for the World Cup
- Cooking and baking – efficiency rises to offset energy prices
N E W S F L A S H
E V E N T S
N E W S L E T T E R A R C H I V E
C O N T A C T
Major sporting events: How can the environment score?
Öko-Institut and the German Sport University Cologne are drawing up guidelines for events organizers
Be it
athletics, football or formula one, downhill skiing or mountain biking, major sporting events attract millions of
spectators each year. And it’s no longer just a question of sport. Over the years, these sporting
competitions have developed into major spectacles, with all the attendant media and cultural coverage. This could
be a good thing, but also means a lot of rubbish and traffic, energy and clean water consumption. But just how
significant is the impact on the environment? And to what extent can it be reduced through careful forward
planning? These are questions which the German Federal Environmental Agency has asked researchers from the
Öko-Institut and the German Sport University Cologne (DSHS) to answer. They will feed their findings into
guidelines for environmentally friendly major sporting events. These will give practical advice to organizers,
local authorities and sports associations in particular.
“The events aspect of major sporting fixtures is becoming increasingly prominent, as are the environmental
issues involved. Yet very few people have investigated the scale of these issues in quantitative terms”,
explains project leader Martin Schmied of the Öko-Institut. “Even tips on how the environmental impact can
be minimized through forward planning are only available for individual sports or specific sporting events,
sports associations or venues. There is no systematic set of guidelines for major sporting events.” But all
that is about to change.
Researchers at the Öko-Institut and the DSHS’ Institut für Natursport und Ökologie (Institute for Nature
and Ecology in Sport) have already done some work on this issue. They drew up the environmental action plan for
Leipzig’s application for the 2012 Olympic Games. The Öko-Institut has also developed Green GoalTM, the
environmental action plan for the 2006 FIFA World CupTM on behalf of the Organising Committee (See the next
newsletter item for further details).
The scientific basis for the guidelines will give very concrete suggestions for action and will include a
comprehensive material flow analysis, to permit a quantitative assessment of the environmental impact. The
material flow analysis will allow researchers to ascertain which sporting event generates the most waste or which
consumes the most water. Does the transport aspect place the greatest burden on the environment, or is it energy
consumption? What is the difference in environmental impact between events held in covered arenas and open-air
stadiums, in the countryside and in a conurbation, or between conventional and ‘event-type’ fixtures,
national and international competitions? The DSHS will also be investigating the impact on nature –
quantified wherever possible – and developing criteria for nature-friendly event management.
The resulting practical suggestions in the guidelines will depend both on the type of event and on the
environmental aspects that are of particular relevance. “For example, if 80 per cent of greenhouse gases
emitted as a result of the World Cup arise from transport, that is the area the measures will focus on”,
explains Schmied, “Of course, we are also investigating what venues and organizers are already doing or
plan to do to reduce the environmental impact of their events.”
To ensure that the results of the study progress beyond the theory stage and are implemented widely, the
researchers will distribute their findings to events venues and organizers and sports associations already
involved in the project, as well as conferences and training events in the worlds of sports and the environment,
among others. They will also attempt to begin long-term cooperation with associations and other organizers.
The guidelines for the environmentally-friendly management of major sporting events shall be published in autumn
2006, in both German and English. kk
Contact:
Martin Schmied
Öko-Institut e.V., Berlin Office
Infrastructure & Enterprises Division
[back to the index]
Green Goals for the World Cup
Some stadiums exceed the requirements of the Green Goal™ environmental action plan
In three and
a half months’ time, on 9 June, it will be kick-off time in the first game of the 2006 World Cup. Green
Goal™ activities, part of an environmental action plan devised by the Öko-Institut for the 2006 FIFA World
Cup™, are already in full swing. One of the main aims of Green Goal™ is to reduce the environmental
burden which the World Cup places on the environment by 20 per cent at source in terms of water, waste, energy
and transportation. But investment in climate protection outside Europe is also on the agenda, in order to
balance out the overall environmental impact of the World Cup. The result will be a 2006 FIFA World Cup™
which is climate neutral. “Green Goal™ has been popular, and has resonated throughout Germany”,
says Dr. Hartmut Stahl, the Öko-Institut’s project coordinator. “Some stadiums have even exceeded
their targets.” So how is Green Goal™ being implemented in practice? Here are two examples.
EMAS in Nuremberg
The operators of the Frankenstadion in Nuremburg aim to integrate environmental
performance firmly into day-to-day operations. That’s why the stadium applied for, and passed, a systematic
Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) audit. At the end of January, the stadium was the first in Europe to
receive official EMAS certification. At the award ceremony, Bavarian Environment Minister Werner Schnappauf told
the press: “Nuremberg is the most environmentally friendly stadium in the World Cup. And environmental
performance is also having a positive effect on operating costs. Economic and environmental viability are no
longer in conflict.” EMAS is a voluntary, EU-wide scheme to improve businesses’ environmental
performance and publicize it. What it means for the Nuremberg stadium is that the operators are paying much more
attention to environmental considerations when they make business decisions. Under EMAS, regular monitoring,
including checks by independent experts, will continue even after the World Cup is over to see if the stadium
meets its self-imposed targets.
In Nuremberg, the main focus will be on energy and water:
- Rain water will be collected in and around the stadium and used to water the stadium pitch, training grounds and other green spaces.
- Any excess water will recharge the groundwater via a nearby pond.
- The toilet facilities will use dry urinals with waterless, no-flush disposal.
- Photovoltaic arrays will generate clean electricity.
- The stadium will be lit with high-efficiency lamps.
The stadium will save around 10,000 cubic metres of water in total. Consumption of drinking-quality water will be
cut by 50 per cent.
Solar power in Dortmund
Dortmund is not just hoping for goals galore during the World Cup, it’s also seeking sunshine. Since
November, the Westfalenhallen buildings which will house the media centre during the World Cup have been the
largest producer of solar power in the German footballing community. Photovoltaic panels generate 550,000
kilowatt hours of clean energy every year. In all, the system’s capacity is sufficient to cover the energy
needs of all six games to be held in Dortmund, as well as the media centre itself. Eurosolar, the European
Association for Renewable Energy, rewarded Dortmund for its commitment to Green Goal™ by awarding it the
European Solar Prize in December 2005.
But using solar power is not the only way in which Dortmund is supporting the Green Goal™ initiative.
- To make travel by train a more attractive prospect, the national rail network stop right by the stadium is being refurbished.
- The ‘green World Cup mile’ invites visitors to take the half-hour walk from the main station to the stadium.
- Measures are being taken to avoid waste where possible, and to dispose of different types of waste separately.
- Concrete areas around the stadium will be unsealed to restore the area’s natural balance.
National promoters get in on the act
Green Goal™ is not just being implemented in stadiums and
World Cup host cities. Promoters and sponsors nationwide are also making an environmental commitment. Take energy
supplier EnBW: it will supply a total of 13 million kilowatt hours’ electricity from renewable sources.
This represents the total amount of energy that stadiums, media centres and hospitality areas will need for the
four weeks of the World Cup. Unfortunately, the stadiums cannot be supplied directly with this renewable
electricity, as they have contracts with their own electricity suppliers. The Öko-Institut has therefore been
working with EnBW and FIFA on a ‘substitution solution’: between January and June 2006, the 13
million kilowatt hours of green power will be fed into the German national grid and allocated to World Cup energy
consumption.
The German national rail company Deutsche Bahn AG, another sponsor of and supplier to Green Goal™, has
dreamed up a special ticket offer for World Cup visitors. Since December last year, environmentally-aware
football fans have been able to buy a ‘World Champion Ticket’ or a ‘World Champion Pass’.
The ‘World Champion Ticket’ will get World Cup ticket holders to their game at a reasonable price.
The ‘World Champion Pass’ is a railcard valid on local and national train services throughout Germany
during the World Cup period. Six thousand official World Cup journalists will travel for free on these tickets
across the country’s entire rail network for the whole six weeks. What is more, every player in the German
national team received a Bahncard 100 railcard in November 2005. The national squad can use these cards to travel
for free on the German railways. During last year’s Confederations Cup, the team used the ICE train to
travel from Frankfurt to Cologne. Team manager Oliver Bierhoff, who received the travelcard on behalf of the
players, recalled: “We arrived on time and travelled quickly and comfortably. We’d be pleased to
repeat the experience, and it would make an active contribution to Green Goal.”
Green Goal™ leads the way for major sporting events
The influence of Green Goal™ is spreading far and wide. The Austrian Institute for Applied Ecology is
currently drawing up a similar action plan for the 2008 European Championships. Green Goal™ has received a
lot of interest since presentations were given on the action plan at the United Nations Climate Change Conference
in Montreal in December 2005 and the United Nations World Conference on Sport and Environment in Nairobi in
November 2005. In January 2006, Dr. Hartmut Stahl presented Green Goal™ to the Greening Events conference
in Vienna. Greening Events is an environmental initiative launched during the current Austrian presidency of the
EU. It aims to introduce greater sustainability into major European events. ka
The Öko-Institut’s website features more on Green Goal™ (in German): www.oeko.de/greengoal.htm. You can also consult the official Green Goal™
site (in English and German): http://greengoal.fifaworldcup.yahoo.net.
Contact:
Dr. Hartmut Stahl
Öko-Institut e.V., Darmstadt Office
Infrastructure & Enterprises Division
[back to the index]
Cooking and baking – efficiency rises to offset energy prices
New EcoTopTen market survey on cookers and ovens / Market survey on cars updated
Cooking and
baking is not just a matter of eating good food. The electricity or gas bill shouldn’t leave a nasty taste
in your mouth either. And gas is a good bet in that respect: “Cooking with gas is not just cheaper,
it’s also more environmentally friendly than electricity”, explains Dr. Ulrike Eberle from the
Öko-Institut. This is because using gas as a direct source of heat means energy losses are only around half what
they would be with electricity. “Anyone whose home is already connected to the gas main could save money by
investing in a gas cooker”, says Dr. Eberle. And anyone who hasn’t got gas can consult EcoTopTen for
an overview of especially efficient electric cookers. The list of cookers, and the criteria used to assess them,
are now available online (in German) as part of the new market survey: www.ecotopten.de/prod_kochen_prod.php.
“In the past, there was no standard way of assessing the energy consumption of gas cookers”, states
Dr. Eberle, “which meant we had no reliable data against which to compare different models.” This is
not the case for electric cookers, which can be classified according to energy efficiency criteria. These
criteria have existed for ovens for some time, although there are none for hobs as yet. EcoTopTen recommends that
you choose an electric oven in energy efficiency class A.
The EcoTopTen market report features a selection of efficient standalone and built-in cookers, with or without
hobs, as well as built-in ovens. During a standard period of fan oven operation, none of them used more than 0.79
kilowatt hours of electricity. All the cookers listed must be equipped with basic fan and fan-assisted oven
settings, as well as browning and base heating elements. Cookers with a built-in hob are only recommended if they
have gas rings or a glass-ceramic cooktop, as these use less power than a cast-iron hotplate. EcoTopTen also
contains information on various cooker operating modes and on safety features such as childproofing,
triple-glazed oven doors and safety cut-out switches.
A total of six standalone cookers with built-in hobs, sixteen built-in cookers without hobs and twenty-six
built-in ovens fulfilled the EcoTopTen criteria. All the cookers and ovens recommended are highly
energy-efficient. The overall annual cost of running an EcoTopTen cooker must not exceed the average annual cost
of running a class-A cooker by more than ten per cent. The difference in price can be quite significant, and is
partly determined by differences in functionality, and in particular by cooking modes and special features. As
the overall annual cost is mainly determined by the purchase price, consumers should consider which functions are
really important to them before they buy.
Interestingly, energy consumption during cooking isn’t just a question of which oven you choose. If you
cook cleverly, you can reduce energy consumption still further, and make further cuts in your gas or electricity
bill. Tips on clever cooking, the full EcoTopTen market overview and more information on cookers and cooking can
be accessed on the internet in German at www.ecotopten.de/produktfeld_kochen.php.
Our other news is that the EcoTopTen market survey on energy-saving ‘green’ cars was updated in
January. You can consult it in German at: www.ecotopten.de/prod_mobil_pkw_prod.php.
Further interesting material is available to view and download from www.ecotopten.de/projekt_englisch.php.
EcoTopTen is a wide-ranging initiative which the Öko-Institut has taken in support of sustainable mass-market
consumption and product innovation. The Institute’s researchers regularly recommend a selection of quality
EcoTopTen products which represent good value for money and are the most environmentally friendly. Typical
products which do not meet the EcoTopTen criteria are also presented for comparison. EcoTopTen market surveys
make it easier to make an informed decision and buy an all-round quality product. You can find these product
recommendations in German on the internet at www.ecotopten.de. Ten other market surveys will be available by the end of 2006, with the next one
on flat screens.
The EcoTopTen research project is sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, and the EcoTopTen
campaign by the German Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection and the Legacy for the Future
Foundation. The monthly magazine ‘natur&kosmos’ is our media partner, and regularly reports on
the EcoTopTen and the latest market surveys. The March edition tackles dishwashers, in an article entitled
‘5:1 für die Maschine’ (‘Five-one to the dishwasher’). Would you like to stay informed?
Subscribe to the German-language EcoTopTen newsletter by sending an e-mail to anmeldung(at)ecotopten.de . kk
Contact:
Dr. Ulrike Eberle
Kathrin Graulich Project
leader
Öko-Institut e.V., Head Office Freiburg
Sustainable Products & Materials Flows Division
[back to the index]
Siting nuclear repositories: Public involvement is key
Öko-Institut develops public participation strategy
Be it a landfill or industrial plant, airport expansion or high-speed railway: Wherever such facilities are
planned, conflict is inevitable. The necessary acceptance is lacking because those affected on the ground receive
too little information or are involved insufficiently in the procedures. As a result, procedures drag on,
counter-expertise follows expertise, and the public becomes increasingly unsettled. All of this costs much time
and money and can even call the entire project into question. In response, there has been growing interest across
Europe for several years now in ways to involve the public in decision-making processes earlier and more closely.
This also concerns the selection procedure for a radioactive waste repository. The Öko-Institut is now developing
a strategy on this specific theme on behalf of the German Federal Office for Radiation Protection.
The key issue is: How must public participation in the course of the repository siting procedure be shaped in
order to ensure greater transparency and acceptance in the decision-making process? The Öko-Institut has put
together an interdisciplinary team to develop the strategy, which shall address a range of procedural elements
currently under debate to realize a final repository for radioactive wastes in Germany.
In their work on the strategy, the Institute’s experts are keen to elicit input from practicians,
scientists and stakeholders. The draft strategy will therefore be presented at an early stage of development to a
selected group of experts, at a specially convened discussion round. In a second step, the draft of the overall
strategy shall be put up for debate at an expert conference. This shall involve stakeholders involved in a range
of large-scale projects, such as public authorities, project proposers, host communities, interest groups and
their consultants, as well as scientists experienced in public participation procedures.
The project is scheduled to run for two years. Its findings are expected in mid-2007. Further details in German
are available here.
kk
Contact:
Öko-Institut e.V., Darmstadt Office
Beate
Kallenbach-Herbert
Nuclear Engineering & Plant Safety Division
Regine Barth
Coordinator of Environmental Law Division
[back to the index]
The Role of Precaution in GMO Policy
Expert conference middle of April in Wien
What is the Role of Precaution in GMO Policy? To discuss this question, the Austrian Federal Ministry of
Agriculture, Forestry, the Environment and Water Management, the Ministry of Health and Women within the frame of
the Austrian EU-Presidency and the Austrian Federal Environment Agency invite to an expert conference on April
18th and 19th in Wien. Starting out from the precautionary principle, which is firmly established in European
law, the actual and possible development of this principle in GMO policy is examined from legal and scientific
perspectives as well as on the basis of case studies at national, European and international levels.
The conference is expected to gather a select group of stakeholders from various countries and organisations.
Participants will be provided with a forum to discuss relevant aspects of the precautionary approach towards
regulation of GMOs. Main topics discussed are possibilities and limits of precautionary measures within the
existing legal framework, the scientific background of precautionary approaches, as well as the practical
experiences in applying the precautionary principle.
Conclusions of the conference should highlight the current state of discussion on precautionary approaches
towards GMOs and emphasize the specific needs for further developments on the EU and international level.
Location:
Hofburg Kongresszentrum & Redoutensäle
Heldenplatz
A-1014 Wien
Registration:
For Registration please use http://event-registration.bmgf.gv.at
Please be sure to register by February 24th
Organizer:
Federal Environment Agency, Austria
Further informationen:
www.umweltbundesamt.at
[back to the index]
C O N T A C T
Publisher
Öko-Institut e.V.
Institute for Applied Ecology (Öko-Institut)
Editorial office
Department of Public Relations & Communication
Christiane Rathmann
Katja Kukatz
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