2010 Olympic Games Should Go Carbon Neutral

News Release Seventy-one of Canada’s Top Athletes Call for Carbon Neutral 2010 Olympics For immediate release—February 5, 2009

Vancouver—More than 70 of Canada’s top Olympic and national team athletes are

calling on the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) to make the 2010 Winter Games carbon neutral. "We're encouraging VANOC to lead by example and use the inspirational power of the Olympics. Let’s show the world that together we can put effective climate change solutions into action," said Adam Kreek, Beijing Olympic Gold Medalist in rowing. VANOC CEO John Furlong has publicly stated that climate change is at the top of VANOC’s environmental agenda, and that VANOC’s goal is to hold a carbon neutral Games. “The good news is that the cost of meeting VANOC’s commitment is affordable at an estimated 0.3 per cent of the Games’ total budget. And this is an excellent opportunity for an Olympic sponsor,” said Deborah Carlson, Climate Change Specialist with the David Suzuki Foundation. With just one year to go, time is running out for VANOC to announce a program to deal with the climate impact of the Games. The 71 athletes, many of whom will be competing in the 2010 Winter Olympics, have addressed their concerns in an open letter to VANOC CEO John Furlong. “Throughout my 15-year career as a cross-country skier, I have seen the seasons becoming less predictable, and races being cancelled more frequently due to lack of snow, said Sara Renner, Olympic cross-country ski silver medalist for Canada. “I am concerned about the future of the sports we love, but also about the next generation of Canadians, who will be left to deal with even more serious climate change impacts if we don’t act now,” added Renner. – 30 – For further information: Kristen Ostling, Media Relations, David Suzuki Foundation, [email protected], 778-987-9907 To download the athletes’ open letter to VANOC CEO John Furlong, read a backgrounder on a carbon neutral 2010 Winter Games, or view a public sign-on letter to VANOC: www.davidsuzuki.org/Climate_Change/Projects/Olympics

The Winnipeg Sun Athletes go green ; Ask organizers to be sure Games are carbon neutral Friday, February 6, 2009 Page: S6 Section: Sports Byline: BY DONNA SPENCER, THE CANADIAN PRESS Illustrations: photo by Jeff Mcintosh, the Canadian Press Snowboarder Justin Lamoureux displays the green message on his board yesterday at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary.

Canadian snowboarder Justin Lamoureux is doing what he can to save winter. The 32-year-old from Squamish, B.C., sold his gas-guzzling truck to buy a small car. He bought $400 worth of carbon offsets last year to compensate for the carbon-producing flights he took competing around the world. Written on the nose of his snowboard are the words "Ride Carbon Neutral." And Lamoureux was one of 74 Canadian athletes who co-signed a letter sent yesterday to the 2010 Olympic Games organizing committee (VANOC) in Vancouver and Whistler, B.C., urging CEO John Furlong to do more to make the Winter Games green. "Being in the mountains most days of my life and seeing glaciers retreat over the years and things like that, I want it to stop," Lamoureux said yesterday in Calgary. "I want future generations to be able to play in the snow." The athletes ask the public to endorse their letter via the David Suzuki Foundation website at www.davidsuzuki.org.

"Olympics are extremely hard on the environment," said Renner, a three-time Olympian. "Things will have to change. Vancouver and VANOC can really make that difference." While VANOC has reduced its carbon footprint by making venues energy efficient, the athletes want to know how the organizing committee will address energy use at venues, local transportation and travel to the Olympics by athletes, officials and spectators. They've also asked VANOC to use its platform to campaign aggressively for the environment and inspire Canadians address climate change. The athletes find the biggest part of their carbon footprint comes from air travel and the Olympics Games are no different. The foundation estimated 69% the 2010 Olympics' carbon footprint will come from air travel by participants, officials, sponsors, employees, media and spectators. The Foundation states VANOC could buy carbon credits for less than $5 million to compensate for those flights.

One of Furlong's stated goals is to stage a carbon-neutral Games, which means net zero greenhouse gas emissions.

Carbon credits are controversial because the market is unregulated. A common complaint is what is the point of buying into a carbon offset program to plant trees if the trees aren't cared for and die.

Carbon neutrality is achieved by both reducing environmental impact and buying carbon offsets to compensate for damage that can't be avoided. Carbon offsets are projects such as wind farms or solar-panel installations.

The athletes are asking for at least 20% of the carbon offsets VANOC purchases to fall under the Gold Standard, which are environmental projects backed by the World Wildlife Federation, Greenpeace and the David Suzuki Foundation.

When VANOC asked the David Suzuki Foundation to estimate the impact of the 2010 Olympics, which run from Feb. 12 to 28, the answer was about 328,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, or the equivalent of 65,600 cars on the road for one year.

VANOC says it will release details on how it will deal with greenhouse gas emissions from the Olympics during the World Conference on Sport and the Environment March 29 to 31 in Vancouver.

Lamoureux, cross-country skiers Chandra Crawford and Sara Renner, Boston Bruins defenceman Andrew Ference, speedskater Kristina Groves, Paralympian Chantal Petitclerc and kayaker Adam van Koeverden are among the athletes who asked Furlong to adhere to his commitment of a carbon-neutral Games.

© 2009 Sun Media Corporation. All rights reserved.

These athletes also participate in the David Suzuki Foundation's Play It Cool program, which helps them calculate their carbon footprint and lives carbon neutral lives.

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The Province 70-plus Canadian athletes sign carbon-neutral letter Friday, February 6, 2009 Page: A25 Section: News Byline: Clare Ogilvie Dateline: WHISTLER Source: The Province

Over 70 Canadian athletes have signed a letter to 2010 Olympic boss John Furlong urging him to make sure the Games are carbon neutral. "I think that would send a very powerful message to big organizations and big events that this is standard procedure," said Olympic cross-country silver medallist Sara Renner of Italy. Renner and husband Thomas Grandi helped found Play it Cool in 2006 with the David Suzuki Foundation to get athletes to offset their carbon emissions. The foundation is supporting the athletes in their bid to get the 2010 Games to be carbon neutral. The organization has estimated that the emissions produced by the Games are equal to keeping 65,600 cars on the road for one year. It would cost the Vancouver organizing committee about $5 million to buy offsets for its greenhouse gas emissions -- that's about 0.3 per cent of its $1.76-billion operating budget. "At this point what we have got from VANOC is a vision of a carbon-neutral Games, but we are still a little short on action to make it a reality," said Deborah Carlson, climate change specialist with the foundation. Linda Coady, VANOC's vice-president of sustainability, said: "We agree that offsets used to neutralize the carbon footprint of the Games have to be highly credible and that the Games provide an opportunity to engage athletes and the public on climate solutions." VANOC plans to offset emissions from officials, staff and athletes but not indirect emissions from spectators. To find out more and to add your signature to the letter to VANOC, go to www.davidsuzuki.org/Climate_Chan ge/Projects/Olympics. [email protected]

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Portage La Prairie Athletes want a green Games Friday, February 6, 2009 Page: 9 Section: Sports Byline: BY DONNA SPENCER, THE CANADIAN PRESS

Canadian snowboarder Justin Lamoureux is doing what he can to save winter. The 32-year-old from Squamish, B.C., sold his gas-guzzling truck to buy a small car. He bought $400 worth of carbon offsets last year to compensate for the carbon-producing flights he took competing around the world. Written on the nose of his snowboard are the words "Ride Carbon Neutral." And Lamoureux was one of 74 Canadian athletes who co-signed a letter sent yesterday to the 2010 Olympic Games organizing committee (VANOC) in Vancouver and Whistler, B.C., urging CEO John Furlong to do more to make the Winter Games green. "Being in the mountains most days of my life and seeing glaciers retreat over the years and things like that, I want it to stop,"Lamoureux said Thursday in Calgary. "I want future generations to be able to play in the snow."" The athletes ask the public to endorse their letter via the David Suzuki Foundation website at www.davidsuzuki.org. One of Furlong's stated goals is to stage a carbon-neutral Games, which means net zero greenhouse gas emissions. Carbon neutrality is achieved by both reducing environmental impact and buying carbon offsets to compensate for damage that can't be avoided. Carbon offsets are projects such as wind farms or solar-panel installations. When VANOC asked the David Suzuki Foundation to estimate the impact of the 2010 Olympics, which run from Feb. 12-28, the answer was about 328,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, or the equivalent of 65,600 cars on the road for one year.

said Renner, a three-time Olympian. "Things will have to change. Vancouver and VANOC can really make that difference." While VANOC has reduced its carbon footprint by making venues energy efficient, the athletes want to know how the organizing committee will address energy use at venues, local transportation and travel to the Olympics by athletes, officials and spectators. They've also asked VANOC to use its platform to campaign aggressively for the environment and inspire Canadians address climate change. The athletes find the biggest part of their carbon footprint comes from air travel and the Olympics Games are no different. The foundation estimated 69% the 2010 Olympics' carbon footprint will come from air travel by participants, officials, sponsors, employees, media and spectators. The Foundation states VANOC could buy carbon credits for less than $5 million to compensate for those flights. Carbon credits are controversial because the market is unregulated. A common complaint is what is the point of buying into a carbon offset program to plant trees if the trees aren't cared for and die. The athletes are asking for at least 20% of the carbon offsets VANOC purchases to fall under the Gold Standard, which are environmental projects backed by the World Wildlife Federation, Greenpeace and the David Suzuki Foundation. VANOC says it will release details on how it will deal with greenhouse gas emissions from the Olympics during the World Conference on Sport and the Environment March 29 to 31 in Vancouver. © 2009 Sun Media Corporation. All rights reserved.

Lamoureux, cross-country skiers Chandra Crawford and Sara Renner, Boston Bruins def-enceman Andrew Ference, speedskater Kristina Groves, Paralympian Chantal Petitclerc and kayaker Adam van Koeverden are among the athletes who asked Furlong to adhere to his commitment of a carbon-neutral Games. These athletes also participate in the David Suzuki Foundation's Play It Cool program, which helps them calculate their carbon footprint and lives carbon neutral lives. "Olympics are extremely hard on the environment,"

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The Globe And Mail Athletes press for carbon-neutral Olympics Friday, February 6, 2009 Page: A4 Section: National News Byline: Donna Spencer Source: The Canadian Press

Canadian snowboarder Justin Lamoureux is doing what he can to save winter. The 32-year-old from Squamish, B.C., sold his gas-guzzling truck to buy a small car. He bought $400 worth of carbon offsets last year to compensate for the carbon-producing flights he took competing around the world.

"VANOC is on the right track in terms of its vision with respect to a carbon neutral goal," said Deborah Carlson, a climate-change specialist with the David Suzuki Foundation. "We need more specific, concrete action."

Written on the nose of his snowboard are the words "Ride Carbon Neutral."

The athletes find the biggest part of their carbon footprint comes from air travel and the Olympic Games are no different.

And Mr. Lamoureux was one of 74 Canadian athletes who co-signed a letter yesterday to the 2010 Olympic Games organizing committee in Vancouver and Whistler, B.C., urging chief executive officer John Furlong to do more to make the Winter Games green.

The foundation estimates 69 per cent of the 2010 Olympics' carbon footprint will come from air travel by participants, officials, sponsors, employees, media and spectators. The foundation says VANOC could buy carbon credits for less than $5-million to compensate for those flights.

"Being in the mountains most days of my life and seeing glaciers retreat over the years and things like that, I want it to stop," Mr. Lamoureux said in Calgary yesterday. "I want future generations to be able to play in the snow."

© 2009 CTVglobemedia Publishing Inc. All Rights Reserved.

The athletes are asking the public to endorse their letter via the David Suzuki Foundation website at http://www.davidsuzuki.org. One of Mr. Furlong's stated goals is to stage a carbon-neutral Games, which means zero net greenhouse-gas emissions. Carbon neutrality is achieved by reducing emissions and buying carbon offsets to compensate for emissions that can't be avoided. Carbon offsets are projects such as wind farms or solar-panel installations. When the Vancouver Olympic Committee asked the David Suzuki Foundation to estimate the impact of the 2010 Olympics, which run from Feb. 12 through Feb. 28, the answer was about 328,000 tonnes of greenhouse-gas emissions, or the equivalent of 65,600 cars on the road for one year. Mr. Lamoureux, cross-country skiers Chandra Crawford and Sara Renner, Boston Bruins defenceman Andrew Ference, speedskater Kristina Groves, Paralympian Chantal Petitclerc and kayaker Adam van Koeverden are among the athletes who asked Mr. Furlong to adhere to his commitment of a carbon-neutral Games. While VANOC has reduced its carbon footprint by making venues energy efficient, the athletes want to know how the organizing committee will address energy use at venues, local transportation and travel to the Olympics by athletes, officials and spectators.

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The Belleville Intelligencer Canadian athletes want 2010 Vancouver Games to be green; Friday, February 6, 2009 Page: 16 Section: Sports Byline: THE CANADIAN PRESS;

Canadian snowboarder Justin Lamoureux is doing what he can to save winter. The 32-year-old from Squamish, B. C., sold his gas-guzzling truck to buy a small car. He bought $400 worth of carbon offsets last year to compensate for the carbon-producing flights he took competing around the world. Written on the nose of his snowboard are the words "Ride Carbon Neutral." And Lamoureux was one of 74 Canadian athletes who co-signed a letter sent Thursday to the 2010 Olympic Games organizing committee in Vancouver and Whistler, B. C., urging chief executive officer John Furlong to do more to make the Winter Games green. "Being in the mountains most days of my life and seeing glaciers retreat over the years and things like that, I want it to stop," Lamoureux said Thursday in Calgary. "I want future generations to be able to play in the snow." The athletes are asking the public to endorse their letter via the David Suzuki Foundation website at www.davidsuzuki.org. One of Furlong's stated goals is to stage a carbon-neutral Games, which means net zero greenhouse gas emissions. Carbon neutrality is achieved by both reducing environmental impact and buying carbon offsets to compensate for damage that can't be avoided. Carbon offsets are projects such as wind farms or solar-panel installations. When VANOC asked the David Suzuki Foundation to estimate the impact of the 2010 Olympics, which run from Feb. 12 to 28, the answer was about 328,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, or the equivalent of 65,600 cars on the road for one year. Lamoureux, cross-country skiers Chandra Crawford and Sara Renner, Boston Bruins defenceman Andrew Ference, speedskater Kristina Groves, Paralympian Chantal Petitclerc and kayaker Adam van Koeverden are among the athletes who asked Furlong to adhere to his commitment of a carbon-neutral Games. These athletes also participate in the David Suzuki Foundation's Play It Cool program, which helps them calculate their carbon footprint and lives carbon neutral lives.

said Renner, a three-time Olympian. "Things will have to change. Vancouver and VANOC can really make that difference." While VANOC has reduced its carbon footprint by making venues energy efficient, the athletes want to know how the organizing committee will address energy use at venues, local transportation and travel to the Olympics by athletes, officials and spectators. They've also asked VANOC to use its platform to campaign aggressively for the environment and inspire Canadians address climate change. "VANOC is on the right track in terms of its vision with respect to a carbon neutral goal," said Deborah Carlson, who is a climate change specialist with the David Suzuki Foundation. "We need more specific, concrete action. "They have many opportunities in terms of the media and corporate sponsors to take up this message." The athletes find the biggest part of their carbon footprint comes from air travel and the Olympics Games are no different. The foundation estimated 69 per cent the 2010 Olympics' carbon footprint will come from air travel by participants, officials, sponsors, employees, media and spectators. The Foundation states VANOC could buy carbon credits for less than $5 million to compensate for those flights. VANOC says it will release details on how it will deal with greenhouse gas emissions from the Olympics during the World Conference on Sport and the Environment March 29-31. "The David Suzuki Foundation has provided VANOC with advice on the carbon plan for the 2010 Games and we value their input," said Linda Coady, VANOC's vice-president of sustainability, in a statement. "We are committed to tracking and publicly reporting on both direct Games-based emissions and indirect emissions from air travel. "We agree that offsets used to neutralize the carbon footprint of the Games have to be highly credible and that the Games provide an opportunity to engage athletes and the public on climate solutions." © 2009 Osprey Media Group Inc. All rights reserved.

"Olympics are extremely hard on the environment,"

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Alaska Highway News Canada's athletes campaign for a green 2010 Games in Vancouver Friday, February 6, 2009 Page: A6 Section: Sports Byline: Donna Spencer Source: Canadian Press

Canadian snowboarder Justin Lamoureux is doing what he can to save winter. The 32-year-old from Squamish, B.C., sold his gas-guzzling truck to buy a small car. He bought $400 worth of carbon offsets last year to compensate for the carbon-producing flights he took competing around the world. Written on the nose of his snowboard are the words "Ride Carbon Neutral." And Lamoureux was one of 74 Canadian athletes who co-signed a letter sent Thursday to the 2010 Olympic Games organizing committee in Vancouver and Whistler, B.C., urging chief executive officer John Furlong to do more to make the Winter Games green. "Being in the mountains most days of my life and seeing glaciers retreat over the years and things like that, I want it to stop," Lamoureux said Thursday in Calgary. "I want future generations to be able to play in the snow." The athletes are asking the public to endorse their letter via the David Suzuki Foundation website at www.davidsuzuki.org. One of Furlong's stated goals is to stage a carbon-neutral Games, which means net zero greenhouse gas emissions. Carbon neutrality is achieved by both reducing environmental impact and buying carbon offsets to compensate for damage that can't be avoided. Carbon offsets are projects such as wind farms or solar-panel installations. When VANOC asked the David Suzuki Foundation to estimate the impact of the 2010 Olympics, which run from Feb. 12 to 28, the answer was about 328,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, or the equivalent of 65,600 cars on the road for one year. Lamoureux, cross-country skiers Chandra Crawford and Sara Renner, Boston Bruins defenceman Andrew Ference, speedskater Kristina Groves, Paralympian Chantal Petitclerc and kayaker Adam van Koeverden are among the athletes who asked Furlong to adhere to his commitment of a carbon-neutral Games. These athletes also participate in the David Suzuki Foundation's Play It Cool program, which helps them calculate their carbon footprint and lives carbon neutral lives.

said Renner, a three-time Olympian. "Things will have to change. Vancouver and VANOC can really make that difference." While VANOC has reduced its carbon footprint by making venues energy efficient, the athletes want to know how the organizing committee will address energy use at venues, local transportation and travel to the Olympics by athletes, officials and spectators. They've also asked VANOC to use its platform to campaign aggressively for the environment and inspire Canadians address climate change. "VANOC is on the right track in terms of its vision with respect to a carbon neutral goal," said Deborah Carlson, who is a climate change specialist with the David Suzuki Foundation. "We need more specific, concrete action. "They have many opportunities in terms of the media and corporate sponsors to take up this message." The athletes find the biggest part of their carbon footprint comes from air travel and the Olympics Games are no different. The foundation estimated 69 per cent the 2010 Olympics' carbon footprint will come from air travel by participants, officials, sponsors, employees, media and spectators. The Foundation states that VANOC could buy carbon credits for less than $5 million to compensate for those flights. VANOC says it will release details on how it will deal with greenhouse gas emissions from the Olympics during the World Conference on Sport and the Environment March 29 to 31 in Vancouver. "The David Suzuki Foundation has provided VANOC with advice on the carbon plan for the 2010 Games and we value their input," said Linda Coady, VANOC's vice-president of sustainability, in a statement. "We are committed to tracking and publicly reporting on both direct Games-based emissions and indirect emissions from air travel. "We agree that offsets used to neutralize the carbon footprint of the Games have to be highly credible and that the Games provide an opportunity to engage athletes and the public on climate solutions." © 2009 Hollinger Canadian Newspapers Limited Partnership

"Olympics are extremely hard on the environment,"

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The Canadian Press Canada's athletes campaign for a green 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver Thursday, February 5, 2009 Section: Sports In General Byline: BY DONNA SPENCER

Canadian snowboarder Justin Lamoureux is doing what he can to save winter. The 32-year-old from Squamish, B.C., sold his gas-guzzling truck to buy a small car. He bought $400 worth of carbon offsets last year to compensate for the carbon-producing flights he took competing around the world. Written on the nose of his snowboard are the words ``Ride Carbon Neutral.'' And Lamoureux was one of 74 Canadian athletes who co-signed a letter sent Thursday to the 2010 Olympic Games organizing committee in Vancouver and Whistler, B.C., urging chief executive officer John Furlong to do more to make the Winter Games green. ``Being in the mountains most days of my life and seeing glaciers retreat over the years and things like that, I want it to stop,'' Lamoureux said Thursday in Calgary. ``I want future generations to be able to play in the snow.'' The athletes are asking the public to endorse their letter via the David Suzuki Foundation website at www.davidsuzuki.org. One of Furlong's stated goals is to stage a carbon-neutral Games, which means net zero greenhouse gas emissions. Carbon neutrality is achieved by both reducing environmental impact and buying carbon offsets to compensate for damage that can't be avoided. Carbon offsets are projects such as wind farms or solar-panel installations. When VANOC asked the David Suzuki Foundation to estimate the impact of the 2010 Olympics, which run from Feb. 12 to 28, the answer was about 328,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, or the equivalent of 65,600 cars on the road for one year. Lamoureux, cross-country skiers Chandra Crawford and Sara Renner, Boston Bruins defenceman Andrew Ference, speedskater Kristina Groves, Paralympian Chantal Petitclerc and kayaker Adam van Koeverden are among the athletes who asked Furlong to adhere to his commitment of a carbon-neutral Games.

said Renner, a three-time Olympian. ``Things will have to change. Vancouver and VANOC can really make that difference.'' While VANOC has reduced its carbon footprint by making venues energy efficient, the athletes want to know how the organizing committee will address energy use at venues, local transportation and travel to the Olympics by athletes, officials and spectators. They've also asked VANOC to use its platform to campaign aggressively for the environment and inspire Canadians address climate change. ``VANOC is on the right track in terms of its vision with respect to a carbon neutral goal,'' said Deborah Carlson, who is a climate change specialist with the David Suzuki Foundation. ``We need more specific, concrete action. ``They have many opportunities in terms of the media and corporate sponsors to take up this message.'' The athletes find the biggest part of their carbon footprint comes from air travel and the Olympics Games are no different. The foundation estimated 69 per cent the 2010 Olympics' carbon footprint will come from air travel by participants, officials, sponsors, employees, media and spectators. The Foundation states that VANOC could buy carbon credits for less than $5 million to compensate for those flights. Carbon credits are controversial because the market is unregulated. A common complaint is what is the point of buying into a carbon offset program to plant trees if the trees aren't cared for and die. Another criticism is that carbon offsets don't foster environmental responsibility at home. If you invest in a wind farm in Madagascar or a solar stoves in Ethiopia, but are environmentally slothful where you live, how can you be carbon neutral? The athletes are asking for at least 20 per cent of the carbon offsets VANOC purchases to fall under the Gold Standard, which are environmental projects backed by the World Wildlife Federation, Greenpeace and the David Suzuki Foundation.

These athletes also participate in the David Suzuki Foundation's Play It Cool program, which helps them calculate their carbon footprint and lives carbon neutral lives.

VANOC says it will release details on how it will deal with greenhouse gas emissions from the Olympics during the World Conference on Sport and the Environment March 29 to 31 in Vancouver.

``Olympics are extremely hard on the environment,''

``The David Suzuki Foundation has provided

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VANOC with advice on the carbon plan for the 2010 Games and we value their input,'' said Linda Coady, VANOC's vice-president of sustainability, in a statement. ``We are committed to tracking and publicly reporting on both direct Games-based emissions and indirect emissions from air travel. ``We agree that offsets used to neutralize the carbon footprint of the Games have to be highly credible and that the Games provide an opportunity to engage athletes and the public on climate solutions.'' Vancouver's sustainability budget, which includes the environment, inner-city programs and Aboriginal participation in the Games, is about $15.6 million out of an operating budget of about $1.6 billion, according to the foundation. Some of VANOC's environmental practices included using reclaimed lumber for the six-acre roof of the speed skating venue in Richmond, as well as caching storm water from the Olympic Oval's roof for the facility's toilets and irrigation of the grounds. ``They've done well making their venues energy efficient and stuff like that,'' Lamoureux said. ``We're not heckling or bad-mouthing them. We're just trying to nudge them along.'' Copyright © 2009 The Canadian Press

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Canada News-wire Over Seventy of Canada's Top Athletes Call for Carbon Neutral 2010 Olympics Thursday, February 5, 2009 Dateline: VANCOUVER, Feb. 5 Time: 06:00 (Eastern Time)

VANCOUVER, Feb. 5 /CNW/ - More than 70 of Canada's top Olympic and national team athletes are calling on the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) to make the 2010 Winter Games carbon neutral. "We're encouraging VANOC to lead by example and use the inspirational power of the Olympics. Let's show the world that together we can put effective climate change solutions into action," said Adam Kreek, Beijing Olympic Gold Medalist in rowing. VANOC CEO John Furlong has publicly stated that climate change is at the top of VANOC's environmental agenda, and that VANOC's goal is to hold a carbon neutral Games. "The good news is that the cost of meeting VANOC's commitment is affordable at an estimated 0.3 per cent of the Games' total budget. And this is an excellent opportunity for an Olympic sponsor," said Deborah Carlson, Climate Change Specialist with the David Suzuki Foundation. With just one year to go, time is running out for VANOC to announce a plan to deal with the climate impact of the Games. The athletes, many of whom will be competing in the 2010 Winter Olympics, have addressed their concerns in an open letter to VANOC CEO John Furlong. "Throughout my 15-year career as a cross-country skier, I have seen the seasons becoming less predictable, and races being cancelled more frequently due to lack of snow," said Sara Renner, Olympic cross-country ski silver medalist for Canada. "I am concerned about the future of the sports we love, but also about the next generation of Canadians, who will be left to deal with even more serious climate change impacts if we don't act now," added Renner. To download a media backgrounder on a carbon neutral 2010 Winter Games: www. davidsuzuki.org/files/reports/cc _backgrounder_final.pdf. To download the athletes' letter, or view a public sign-on letter to VANOC: www.davidsuzuki.org/Climate_Chan ge/Projects/Olympics. © 2009 CNW Group Ltd.

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Vancouver Sun Athletes urge Vanoc to go greener; Letter from Olympians says words aren't enough on carbon-neutral pledge Thursday, February 5, 2009 Page: A3 Section: News Byline: Jeff Lee Source: Vancouver Sun Illustrations: Colour Photo: Justin Lamoureux: campaigning for greener Games.

Some of Canada's best-known Olympic athletes are telling the Vancouver Organizing Committee it isn't acting fast enough on its promise to make the 2010 Winter Games carbon-neutral. In a letter to Vanoc CEO John Furlong, the athletes -including gold-medallist rower Adam Kreek, silver-medallist cross-country skier Sarah Renner and snowboarder Justin Lamoureux -- say the organizing committee should lead by example and announce a program to deal with the entire carbon footprint of the Olympic Games. The three are joined by 71 other athletes in a letter signed and sent to Furlong on Wednesday through the David Suzuki Foundation. Vanoc asked the foundation in 2007 to estimate the amount of greenhouse-gas emissions that would be produced by the Games. The foundation came up with a figure of 328,000 tonnes -- or the equivalent of emissions from 65,000 cars on the road for one year -- and showed Vanoc how to offset that amount. It said 69 per cent of the emissions will come from air travel by athletes, spectators, sponsors and media. It calculated that it would cost Vanoc about $5 million to buy enough credits to offset its carbon production. Even before Vanoc was created, bid organizers told the International Olympic Committee they wanted to fully offset the environmental impact of the Games. Since its inception, Vanoc has undertaken significant environmental sustainability initiatives, including designing carbon-reduced venues, carpooling and using hybrid or low-emission vehicles. It has also said it is calculating both the direct and indirect Games-based emissions from events such as air travel.

sustainability, said that program will be made public at the World Conference on Sport and Environment at the end of March in Vancouver. "We value [the foundation's] input," Coady said in an e-mail. "Vanoc's commitment is to take responsibility for offsetting our direct emissions from the Games. We also agree that offsets used to neutralize the carbon footprint of the Games have to be highly credible. We plan to release further details on our carbon management program [at the conference]." Lamoureux said that for all its efforts, Vanoc still has to do more. "Their hearts are in the right place. They have made a commitment to being carbon neutral. The whole point of the letter is to get them to act on it now because the Games are just a year away," he said. "I'd just like to see them follow up on their campaign promises, so to speak." Lamoureux said he and many other athletes already have the solution: when they fly anywhere they buy "gold standard" offsets from companies such as planetair.ca. Those offsets are then used to pay for environmental projects around the world. Deborah Carlson, a climate-change specialist with the David Suzuki Foundation, said the concern is that Vanoc is not going to be fully carbon-neutral, just "carbon-responsible." "I think semantically, we're on the same page. Vanoc is on the right track in terms of the vision of going carbon-neutral, but they just need to match that vision with some specific, concrete plans," she said. "We're not criticizing what they've done, we're just trying to give them a little push and create momentum for them." [email protected]

It plans to offset direct emissions created by Vanoc staff by purchasing offsets. But it doesn't plan to offset any of the indirect emissions created by visitors jetting to Vancouver for the Games. However, the athletes and the David Suzuki Foundation say in order for Vanoc to be fully carbon neutral, it needs to account for and offset all the direct and indirect emissions the Games create. Vanoc has yet to complete a "carbon management plan" that calculates the total carbon footprint of the Games. Linda Coady, Vanoc's vice-president of

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Vancouversun.Com Athletes urge Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee to go greener Thursday, February 5, 2009 Section: Online Byline: Jeff lee Source: Vancouver Sun

Some of Canada's best-known Olympic athletes are telling the Vancouver Organizing Committee it isn't acting fast enough on its promise to make the 2010 Winter Games carbon-neutral. In a letter to Vanoc CEO John Furlong, the athletes including gold- medallist rower Adam Kreek, silver-medallist cross-country skier Sarah Renner and snowboarder Justin Lamoureux - say the organizing committee should lead by example and announce a program to deal with the entire carbon footprint of the Olympic Games. The three are joined by 71 other athletes in a letter signed and sent to Furlong on Wednesday through the David Suzuki Foundation. Vanoc asked the foundation in 2007 to estimate the amount of greenhouse-gas emissions that would be produced by the Games. The foundation came up with a figure of 328,000 tonnes - or the equivalent of emissions from 65,000 cars on the road for one year and showed Vanoc how to offset that amount. It said 69 per cent of the emissions will come from air travel by athletes, spectators, sponsors and media. It calculated that it would cost Vanoc about $5 million to buy enough credits to offset its carbon production. Even before Vanoc was created, bid organizers told the International Olympic Committee they wanted to fully offset the environmental impact of the Games. Since its inception, Vanoc has undertaken significant environmental sustainability initiatives, including designing carbon-reduced venues, carpooling and using hybrid or low-emission vehicles. It has also said it is calculating both the direct and indirect Games-based emissions from events such as air travel.

"We value [the foundation's] input," Coady said in an e-mail. "Vanoc's commitment is to take responsibility for offsetting our direct emissions from the Games. We also agree that offsets used to neutralize the carbon footprint of the Games have to be highly credible. We plan to release further details on our carbon management program [at the conference]." Lamoureux said that for all its efforts, Vanoc still has to do more. "Their hearts are in the right place. They have made a commitment to being carbon neutral. The whole point of the letter is to get them to act on it now because the Games are just a year away," he said. "I'd just like to see them follow up on their campaign promises, so to speak." Lamoureux said he and many other athletes already have the solution: when they fly anywhere they buy "gold standard" offsets from companies such as planetair.ca. Those offsets are then used to pay for environmental projects around the world. Deborah Carlson, a climate-change specialist with the David Suzuki Foundation, said the concern is that Vanoc is not going to be fully carbon- neutral, just "carbon-responsible." "I think semantically, we're on the same page. Vanoc is on the right track in terms of the vision of going carbon-neutral, but they just need to match that vision with some specific, concrete plans," she said. "We're not criticizing what they've done, we're just trying to give them a little push and create momentum for them." [email protected]

It plans to offset direct emissions created by Vanoc staff by purchasing offsets. But it doesn't plan to offset any of the indirect emissions created by visitors jetting to Vancouver for the Games. However, the athletes and the David Suzuki Foundation say in order for Vanoc to be fully carbon neutral, it needs to account for and offset all the direct and indirect emissions the Games create. Vanoc has yet to complete a "carbon management plan" that calculates the total carbon footprint of the Games. Linda Coady, Vanoc's vice-president of sustainability, said that program will be made public at the World Conference on Sport and Environment at the end of March in Vancouver.

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Theprovince.Com Athletes urge VANOC to green the Games Thursday, February 5, 2009 Section: Online Byline: Clare Ogilvie Source: The Province

WHISTLER - More than 70 of Canada's top Olympic and national-team athletes are calling on organizers of the 2010 Games to get serious about going green. They will be sending a letter to John Furlong, CEO of the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Games (VANOC) Thursday to ask that the organization put a plan in place for the event to be carbon neutral. "We're encouraging VANOC to lead by example and use the inspirational power of the Olympics," said Adam Kreek, a Beijing Olympic gold medallist in rowing. "Let's show the world that together we can put effective climate change solutions into action." VANOC has stated that it is working on a plan to go carbon neutral but the details are yet to be released. "The good news is that the cost of meeting VANOC's commitment is affordable, at an estimated 0.3 per cent of the Games' total budget," said Deborah Carlson, a climate change specialist with the David Suzuki Foundation. "And this is an excellent opportunity for an Olympic sponsor." Canadian Olympic cross-country skier Sara Renner is one of the athletes who signed the open letter to VANOC on going carbon neutral. "Throughout my 15-year career as a cross-country skier, I have seen the seasons becoming less predictable, and races being cancelled more frequently due to lack of snow," she said. "I am concerned about the future of the sports we love, but also about the next generation of Canadians, who will be left to deal with even more serious climate change impacts if we don't act now." [email protected]

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