The donated CERs are due to be utilised for offsetting CO2 –eq emissions from the 2018 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, which together is said to be the equivalent to one per cent of the total CO2 –eq estimated to be emitted during the entire period of the 2018 Winter Games, from 2012 to 2018.

They were co-purchased by 11 citizens, comprising of students, residents, private organisations and entrepreneurs, from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Clean Development Mechanism for approximately KRW ₩16 million (£9,700/$14,500/€13,200).

Youn-sun Kim, a teacher of Yeonhui Elementary School, and the representative of the donator group, offered the CERs contribution certificate to Sangpyo Kim, Pyeongchang 2018 Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (POCOG) vice-president of venue and infrastructure, at a ceremony held at the POCOG office in Seoul.

"The first donation of CERs received today is meaningful since it was made by volunteer citizens," said Kim.

"We have the momentum started and we hope the awareness and the activities of reducing Green House Gasses (GHGs) emission will further expand to enterprises, public businesses and the Government."

Sangpyo Kim (left), POCOG vice-president of venues and infrastructure, accepts the CERs contribution certificate from Youn-sun Kim (right), a teacher at Yeonhui Elementary School ©POCOG






In order to reduce GHGs emission, POCOG is working towards building facilities that utilise geothermal and solar energy in newly constructed venues, as well as expanding the use of eco-friendly cars, and instigating behavioural changes through the promotion of new and improved technologies.

Earlier this month, POCOG signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Korea Environment Corporation, reaching an agreement on three facets that it's claimed will make the 2018 Winter Olympics and Paralympics environmentally friendly. 

As a first step towards accomplishing their "Green Dream: O2 Plus Winter Games" vision, Pyeongchang 2018 published a "Green House Gases Inventory Report" focused on the emissions throughout the preparation period before the Games, between 2012 and 2018.

Additionally, estimates were made for the total emissions during the 2018 Games, with 1.56 million tons of CO2 –eq expected to be emitted.

Pyeongchang 2018 is devising a long-term strategy that it hopes will see between 30 to 40 per cent of the total emissions reduced by the year of the Games.

Organisers claim that 100 per cent will have been offset by 2025, enabling them to have held the first carbon responsible Games in Olympic and Paralympic history, something that Vancouver 2010 claim to have achieved already.

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