#Japan #Tokyo #Carbon Credits #Tokyo Gas #Tokyo 2025

Tokyo 2025 World Athletics Championships and Carbon Credit Initiative

The Tokyo 2025 World Athletics Championships, organized by the Tokyo 2025 World Athletics Foundation, has recently announced a pioneering initiative to utilize carbon credits, contributing to efforts aimed at reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. This significant decision came to light during the “100 Days To Go!” event of the Championships. The collaboration with Tokyo Gas, an official event supporter in the electricity and gas service categories, marks the first time such a comprehensive approach is being implemented for an international sports event in Japan.

The Championships aims to balance the inevitable CO2 emissions generated during the event by not only reducing greenhouse gases on a global scale but also by supporting international initiatives that contribute to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Tokyo Gas will provide trustworthy voluntary credits, derived from such projects, further establishing the event's commitment to sustainability.

A New Standard in International Sports

This initiative highlights the significance of sustainability in global sporting events, aligning perfectly with the gathering of top athletes from over 200 countries and regions. By employing these reliable voluntary credits for CO2 emission reductions, the Championships not only demonstrate an awareness of environmental issues but also aspire to set a new global standard in international sports, referred to as the “Tokyo Model.”

The Tokyo 2025 World Athletics Championships aims to create a positive impact through its sustainability efforts, specifically aligned with the vision detailed in the basic concept of the Championships. This comprehensive sustainability plan was developed considering six critical pillars set forth by World Athletics, which include leadership, sustainable production and consumption, climate change and carbon management, regional and atmospheric environment, global equity, and accessibility and well-being for all.

The foundation's efforts are also in cooperation with Tokyo Gas, which is keenly focused on achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. The company is actively promoting the advanced utilization of natural gas while working towards implementing decarbonization technologies, such as e-methane. A key part of this transition involves leveraging reliable carbon credits for its carbon offset city gas, which has seen significant expansion, with the number of supplied locations exceeding 300 as of April of this year.

Supporting Reliable Carbon Credit Utilization

Tokyo Gas has founded its own carbon credit evaluation standards, ensuring alignment with internationally recognized benchmarks like Verra and the Gold Standard. Furthermore, it has created an independent assessment process that follows the guidelines set by the International Carbon-Neutral Voluntary Credits Market (ICVCM). The company also contributes to the verification efforts led by third-party organizations, guaranteeing a high level of reliability in its carbon offset methodologies.

With these robust systems in place, the Tokyo 2025 World Athletics Championships not only strives to minimize its own carbon footprint but also aims to promote widespread awareness and action regarding climate change on a global scale. By incorporating voluntary credits derived from international projects that support SDGs, Tokyo Gas and the Tokyo 2025 team hope to lead by example, encouraging others in the sports industry to embrace sustainable practices.

As the event draws nearer, all eyes will be on Tokyo as it embarks on this environmentally responsible journey. This initiative may very well establish a groundbreaking model for future sports events worldwide, showcasing Japan’s commitment to sustainability and demonstrating that even large-scale competitions can align with the global agenda of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and fostering sustainable development.