Dribbling towards sustainability, efforts to reduce carbon emissions from World Cup in Jakarta

JAKARTA (Indonesia) - As one of the co-hosts of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023, Indonesia implemented a sustainability program from August 25 to September 3, 2023 with the purpose of taking action in limiting carbon emissions from the competition.

Carbon offsets, trash management, and electric vehicle ecosystems that will be employed as shuttle service vehicles during the World Cup are among the carbon emission reduction measures that will be implemented during the World Cup.

The planting of mangroves at the Mangrove Ecotourism Center PIK, Jakarta, on Tuesday 22 August 8 2023, was a symbolic kick-off of the Sustainability program series by the Indonesia Local Organizing Committee (LOC), in collaboration with Fairatmos. 

This activity is part of compensating for the carbon emitted by the participating teams in traveling from their home countries to Indonesia by planting mangroves in accordance with the amount of carbon used. 

Planting one mangrove tree can absorb approximately 43.28 kg CO2 - 86.67 kg CO2 over its lifetime which is approximately 30-40 years). The Indonesia LOC and Fairatmos will also plant the number of mangroves according to the amount of carbon produced in East Kotawaringin, Central Kalimantan.

"... I hope we can contribute more by planting mangroves, waste management, and others and other activities in an effort to sustain the environment. Currently, we are planting trees that can replace carbon emissions and maintain the growth of these mangroves," said Deputy Chairman of the Indonesia LOC, Agus Antares Mauro.

Ministry of Sports Staff for Public Communication, Mikha Tambayong, said that one of the contributors to poor air quality is carbon emissions, and the impact of poor air quality has a real impact on public health. Therefore, the activities carried out by the Indonesia LOC are in line with the government's focus on how to improve air quality.

"Mangrove planting is in line with the government's program to address air quality, so we appreciate this activity. This is indeed one of the promotional events for the World Cup, but more important as a display of concern for the environment. Through this activity we all take real action, care for the environment," she said.

In addition to carbon compensation, there is also waste management that will be implemented when the FIBA World Cup 2023 event takes place at the Indonesia Arena. Waste from the World Cup every day will be sorted directly at the location provided and then distributed to various places that can turn waste into something more valuable. For this activity, the Indonesia LOC collaborates with Waste for Change.

Another carbon emission reduction program that will also be carried out throughout the World Cup is the use of Electric vehicles that will be used as shuttle service vehicles. Electric buses from TransJakarta will operate around the Gelora Bung Karno area. This bus can be used free of charge for spectators who already have tickets, media with FIBA accreditation, and FIBA Officials. 

While electric motors can be used by media with FIBA accreditation and FIBA WC 2023 Officials in the GBK Area, as well as electric scooters as operational vehicles for the LOC FIBA WC 2023 in Indonesia Arena, in collaboration with the Electric Mobility Collaboration Center (EMC²) and supported by 6 electric buses from the DKI Jakarta Provincial Transportation Agency, TransJakarta, and Mayasari Bakti.

FIBA