The Rio 2016 Olympics have earned a special place in the history of sustainability. Both for their social and environmental commitment, and for a number of controversies. In 1996, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) amended the Olympic Charter to introduce the concept of sustainability among its values, with the aim of "encouraging and supporting a responsible concern for environmental issues and promoting sustainable development in sport". Twenty years on, the Olympic and Paralympic Games sought to minimise social and environmental impact by investing in a more sustainable approach and developing a range of innovations.

Rio 2016, however, was also the Olympics marked by numerous conflicts linked to indigenous lands, police violence and the environment. The question now is whether Brazil will demonstrate that its commitment to sustainability is more than a trending topic, but rather a goal for the future. With its energy mix — one of the most diversified in the world — and its potential, Brazil could become a pioneer in sustainable growth.

Sustainability at Rio 2016: the medals

Following the London 2012 Olympics, Rio 2016 also obtained ISO 20121 certification, the standard for improving the sustainability of events. Starting from the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics, the Olympic Committee increased the accountability and transparency of the Games through the publication of a sustainability report, in accordance with the standards of the Global Reporting Initiative.

Here are the most noteworthy sustainability initiatives at the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games:

• certified sustainable food, with more than 350,000 fish-based meals sourced from fishing industries and farms that met the requirements of the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) or the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC);
• a CO2 emissions reduction and measurement strategy;
• a sustainable procurement programme, such as medals made from recycled materials and the reduction of hazardous chemical agents;
• infrastructure improvements, such as more efficient lighting in public spaces and renovation projects, including the conversion of Olympic venues into schools and public recreational facilities;
• projects for the more peripheral areas of Rio de Janeiro focused on tackling food waste, poverty and social inclusion;
• the participation of the Olympic refugee team.

The failures

Despite the efforts made to reduce the event's impact and the global call to action against climate change, Rio 2016 faced and continues to face numerous controversial issues on a social and environmental level:

• the forced displacement of people from the favelas;
• police violence against residents and protesters. According to Amnesty International, one hundred people were killed by police in the state of Rio de Janeiro this year;
• the suspected misuse of public funds for renovation and development projects, putting private interests ahead of public ones (for example, the privatisation of Rio de Janeiro's water supply);
• the construction of the new Olympic golf course in a protected area without community consultation or an environmental impact assessment;
• a 30 per cent reduction (compared to forecasts) in wastewater management at event venues, increasing health risks.

Most of these issues represent the next challenges facing the Brazilian government — now in a moment of crisis following the ousting of Dilma Rousseff as president — in stepping up its commitment to sustainability and creating shared value with local communities.

Towards Tokyo 2020

The next Olympic Games will be held in Tokyo, capital of Japan, in 2020. The focus on sustainability will be no less significant, in order to raise global awareness and take action against climate change. In this regard, the Olympic Committee has published the first drafts of the sustainability plan for the upcoming Olympics, as well as the Tokyo 2020 sustainability sourcing code, the sustainable code for suppliers that calls on all stakeholders — those directly or indirectly involved — to provide comments and opinions in order to improve it.

Translated by Camilla Soldati