Interview with Mizuno Masato, member of the IOC's Sport and Environment Commission
The most active National Olympic Committee organization in the world is the JOC Sports and Environment Commission. We asked Mizuno Masato about what needs to be implemented by the JOC, as well as by individuals, over the next 10 years.
International Initiative by the JOC
The JOC conducts educational and practical activities in accordance with IOC policy. However, Mizuno, who is also a member of the IOC Sport and Environment Committee, believes that the IOC needs to do more to provide expert knowledge to NOCs. The JOC always reports its activities to the IOC, in the hope that they may be of use to other NOCs in tackling environmental protection. These kinds of initiatives have kept the JOC busy on the international stage.
"To date, the International Olympic Committee has strived to act as a role model that uses sports to convey a message of a better environment, and it has promoted a greener Olympics," says Mizuno.
"The IOC needs to urge all NOCs to form environmental committees and to work with sports federations in compiling joint messages and conducting practical activities. Sports federations in Japan have started with the most basic task of separating trash. Why do we separate trash? Well, if different types of waste are mixed together we merely have trash, but if they are separated, we have a variety of useful resources. If people can understand this, they are more likely to take action. Japan reports to the IOC the guidance programs it has that are geared to thoroughly practicing this, and we hope that these programs and activities can be used as a model to be disseminated to other NOCs. We are proposing this as the fastest approach to take."
Aiming for a Recycling-oriented Sports World
Mizuno describes his ideal regarding sports and the environment as a scenario in which "all sports lovers recycle the things they use without fail, they do not purchase unnecessary goods, they cherish their equipment so that it can be passed down through the generations, and they convey a strong message to society to encourage people to take action themselves."
This is no pipe dream; rather it is something that can be achieved in the next decade. It is possible that the goals of the Kyoto Protocol will be achieved in 2012, only four years away, and that the whole of Japan may be engulfed in the excitement of staging the Olympic Games in 2016. Mizuno believes that the next decade contains a clear vision for the future.
"What needs to be done in the next 10 years is for sports federations to firmly establish sports and environment commission and to get serious about implementing educational and practical activities. The coming decade is the time for the Japanese sports world as a whole to tackle this issue in all earnestness. At the moment, some people may only be participating in environmental activities because they feel obliged to, however I hope that in the future federations will voice their own opinions and show their own initiative in what they do. This is one of our goals."
If awareness is high, this goal could be realized in less than 10 years. More than that, circumstances demand that this target is achieved.
"Moving away from sports, we are seeing natural disasters such as hurricanes and heavy snowfalls occur on a greater scale than before, due to the effects of global warming. In response to this, the Ministry of the Environment will no doubt be seeking greater efforts for environmental protection. When that time comes, I believe that people will understand the true meaning of my message and act accordingly."
The JOC in 2003 acquired certification and registration under ISO14001, the standard for environmental management systems.
"No other NOC has so far followed the JOC lead. Only the Organizing Committee for the Torino Winter Olympics (TOROC) has succeeded in acquiring certification and registration, and then only for the duration of those Games. We were able to achieve this thanks to the efforts of people behind the scenes who were highly committed to working on the environment. The JOC hopes that all sports federations in Japan will obtain ISO certification within the next 20 years."
Environmental policy is also an essential factor that must be considered when bidding for the Olympic Games.
"Cities vying to host the Olympics are obliged to compile an extremely extensive report, Chapter 4 of which concerns the environment. The contents of this section must cover everything, from the condition of the urban environment to air quality, water quality, soil quality, current environmental legislation, ordinances and regulations, environmental consideration in newly constructed facilities, the burden placed on the environment including transit systems, and so on. On the day the host city is chosen, voting IOC members see the city evaluations compiled by the Environment Committee immediately before they vote. Such evaluations state views such as "It is too soon for this city to host the Olympics" or "The city is mature enough but transport is a problem" or "Excellent in all respects." In the event that there is nothing else to separate rival bids, the city that is given an "excellent" assessment gets the nod. So people must be aware that one's approach to the environment plays a significant role in attracting the Olympics."
We Must Adapt and Act
Mr. Mizuno had the following to say about human responsibility.
"Do you know the traits of frogs? Frogs are able to adjust to gradual changes in water temperature. However, if they stay permanently immersed in water with an increasing temperature, they are unable to perceive high temperatures and will eventually boil to death. On the other hand, if a frog is suddenly thrown into boiling water, it will jump out in shock and survive. Human beings are the same. Awareness that we are facing a critical situation may be limited, but there is still time to avert the crisis. Rather than leaving the problem for others to solve, it is our duty to fulfill our responsibilities toward future generations."
If global warming progresses, there is little doubt that Japan will become a subtropical zone. By that time, what will the subtropical regions of today be like? The goals envisaged by sport and the environment may seem inconceivably distant, but everybody today can aspire to an environment where it is possible to play sports in clean air and at a decent temperature.