Sochi 2014 is the first Olympic Games in history to eliminate its direct carbon footprint, due to the efforts of The Dow Chemical Company, the Worldwide Olympic Partner and Official Carbon Partner of Sochi Olympic Winter Games 2014.

 

The “Sustainable Future” program, implemented by Dow in Russia, enabled the mitigation of more than 520,000 MT of carbon dioxide equivalents – exceeding Sochi 2014’s direct carbon footprint of 360,000 MT. The official announcement to this effect has been made by the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee.

 

Dow has been closely engaging with its customers in Russia since early last year to implement energy efficient and low-carbon technologies in various parts of the country. The greenhouse gas reductions delivered through its Sustainable Future program have been verified by international expert ERM, which confirmed that the reductions in emissions have far surpassed the estimated direct carbon footprint of the Games.

 

The carbon footprint directly associated with the games includes emissions related to travel and accommodation of athletes, staff and volunteers, the operation of the sports venues during the period of the Games, and the Organizing Committee’s activities from 2007, when Russia was declared as the host for the 2014 Olympic Winter Games, until the Paralympic Games’ Closing Ceremony on March 17, 2014.

 

Sochi 2014 has also become the first Olympic and Paralympic Games ever with a neutral carbon footprint associated with the travel of spectators and media at the event. This footprint has been estimated to be 160,000 MT of carbon dioxide equivalents. Dow worked with global expert Offsetters to neutralize the travel footprint before the Opening Ceremony by retiring carbon credits from a portfolio of important projects developed to global standards.