In the first week of July, the Chair of Environmental Policy at Hoschule fur Politik hosted Dr. Tony Heynen, a Senior Lecturer in the School of Chemical Engineering at The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia, at the TUM Think Tank. Dr. Heynen, who also directs the Sustainable Energy program, shared valuable insights on the sustainability of hosting the Olympic Games.
The open lecture, "Can hosting an Olympic Games really be sustainable? Perspectives on the legacy outcomes of mega-events," brought around 20 researchers eager to learn more about the complexities of sustainability and mega events.
During the discussion, Dr. Heynen presented findings from his research paper and article, which explores the sustainability of mega-events such as the Olympics by analyzing sustainability assessment models for climate-positive scenarios. His work emphasizes the need for careful planning and innovative approaches to ensure that events of this scale contribute to environmental goals by exploring the host-country’s reliance on carbon offsets and renewable energies, while also introducing the concept of positive legacies. The lecture and disscussions offered a look at potential legacies the Olympics may leave, shedding light on strategies and scenarios host countries may take in order to mitigate their climate goals.
Further questions discussed included:
- How can the findings from this research inform the planning and execution of future mega-events in terms of sustainability practices?
- What indicators were used to evaluate the three dimensions of sustainability (social, economic, and ecological).
- How does the integration of carbon offsets into the sustainability assessment model impact the overall evaluation of mega-event sustainability?
- What lessons can be learned from the sustainability strategies of past Olympic Games that could be applied to the Brisbane 2032 Games?
- How does the concept of social equity apply to the legacy outcomes of the Brisbane 2032 Games, and what measures can be taken to ensure inclusivity?
- How can the sustainability assessment model developed in this study help in evaluating the long-term legacy impacts of the Olympics?
In addition to his lecture, Dr. Heynen will be further contributing to the chair in September, during his participation at the ICOS Cities Talk, where he will continue to share his expertise on mega events and sustainability.