All of us who give our opinion regarding how the possible candidacy for the 2030 Winter Olympics should or should not be place, at the center of the argument, the need for the sustainability of the Games in a context of climate change. It is essential to do so since this is the main challenge for the viability of the project.
The International Olympic Committee has recently radically changed its approach to ensure the real sustainability of the Games and, therefore, its own future, with the adoption of the 20+20 Agenda and the New 2018 Standard. , in which the CIO will only accept applications that, in order to be viable, do not have to build new sports facilities and that adapt the project to the city and country strategies to generate a good legacy .
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We must demonstrate its opportunity and viability and, on this, agree on the project
The Pyrenean Climate Change Strategy proposal should be framed in this direction. The Government of the Generalitat has shown the criteria with which the project should work, taking into account the declaration of climatic emergency in Catalonia and the needs and opportunities of the Pyrenees with or without the Games. These are the actions planned for a territorial rebalancing that make the Pyrenean counties a space to live and work with quality, connected to the world.
The crux of the matter is the specification of the energy aspects, mobility, waste management, accommodation, infrastructures, including digital ones, necessary for the Pyrenean area, and for the entire territory, and at the same time, compatible with the requirements to be able to celebrate the snow competitions of the Winter Games. The implantation of the sub-headquarters in La Molina-Masella, Aran and in the Aragonese Pyrenees would allow an adequate distribution to avoid congestion and facilitate the use of existing facilities. On the suitability of the candidacy, different and conflicting positions have been expressed so far. The common element should be a commitment to the practical implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals from an environmental, social and economic perspective. The fit of all sensitivities might come together when making a candidacy proposal around two key ideas: a “Winter Games with zero emissions” and the deployment of the agreed “Strategic Plan for the Pyrenees”.
The “Zero emissions” proposal is a necessary condition for the project to be sustainable from an environmental perspective in a context of climate change. There are several issues that should be addressed without preconceptions and prejudices by the parties: identify the current requirements for holding the snow tests and guarantee the efficient use of the necessary resources with full respect for the natural environment; see how global warming affects snow levels in selected ski and mountain resorts; confirm the capacity of complementary artificial snow production produced with renewable energy and with sufficient water resources; establish a green mobility plan that is consistent with the Catalan Transport Infrastructure Plan 2006-2026 and with the Mobility Master Plan for the Pyrenees and Aran; align with the model proposed by the Alt Pirineu and Aran Partial Territorial Plan to respond to the implementation of sub-venues and small Olympic villages to be built as social housing operations for the area; and quantify all the impacts of the project to assess its cost-benefit.
These and other issues are important and pertinent and, only with a deep and serious technical dialogue between the various approaches, will we be in a position to clarify doubts and specify actions and priorities.
In Catalonia we have made great progress in the analysis and diagnosis of the situation and in the strategies for acting in this field. We have the data and the instruments. We must apply them thoroughly and demonstrate the feasibility and timeliness of the project and, on this basis, agree on it.
