8th WORLD CONFERENCE ON SPORT AND THE ENVIRONMENT

8th World Conference on Sport and the Environment
International Cooperation and Development Department
Report
A delegate asked whether the speakers had thought about a carbon offset programme that shifts
from environment opportunities towards providing social and development benefi ts.
Ms Badul replied that in most South African government programmes, they also take into
account the social impact. It will be no different with the carbon offset project in place. The
projects will benefi t low income households.
Mr Gill of Ecotrust stated that there is an enormous amount of capital around the offset markets.
In BC, there are coastal communities and aboriginal communities that are impoverished. Many of
these communities have their energy systems run on diesel, which leads to per capita emissions
being 44 times higher than those in urban areas. The capital from offsets and other strategies can
be invested in these coastal communities. He further stated that the carbon tax in BC must be
high enough to trigger change.
Mr Mack answered that with respect to the carbon tax, tackling the carbon footprint issue had
been diffi cult because many people did not agree with the course of action. Fundamentally,
BC residents need to buy-in and move forward on the issue. With respect to broadening
offsets, one of the big issues is ensuring that offsets actually offset. There must be ways to
put less carbon in the atmosphere or ways to draw the carbon out. Credible solutions must
be found.
Julius DeHeer outlined guidelines he called the “Polar Bear Rules” to combat carbon
emissions:
Think globally, take into account all your carbon emissions.
Be active, reduce carbon emissions as far as reasonably possible, compensate for the rest.
Be responsible; compensate for carbon emissions where they are emitted.
Be fast, offset carbon emissions before or during, not after the Games.
Look for the long-term projects that leave an overall legacy, such as social benefi ts, not only
environmental benefi ts.
Be cooperative, get help from all the stakeholders.
Be curious, look for the best practices.
4.10. Harnessing the Power of Sport for Change
Mr Ray Zahab,
Adventurer and Founder, Impossible2Possible, Canada
“I realised that there were no limits to what I, or human beings in general, are capable of doing”.
Mr Zahab told his life-changing story of adventure and enlightenment. Beginning with a video
excerpt from a documentary which followed his journey, he briefl y explained the breadth and
length of his “ultra-marathon” across the Sahara desert. Mr Zahab and two other runners began
their ultra-marathon in Western Africa and ended at the Red Sea in Cairo. They ran this 7,500km
distance in 111 consecutive days, averaging over 50 miles a day.
This Saharan adventure was the culmination of Mr Zahab’s personal journey. Just years earlier,
he had found himself unfocused and unmotivated in life. Inspired by his active and ambitious
younger brother, Mr Zahab decided to change his life, and to begin taking on adventure. What
made his story stand out, was not only the trans-African expedition, but where his life was prior
to his revelation one evening. He was a pack-a-day smoker and physically incapable of running
5km. He was not in ideal athletic shape and had never participated in any running activities.
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