Delivering energy infrastructure needs people, capability, and cohesion
Australia's energy transition requires more than technical plans. Discover four ways to build the people, culture and capability to deliver infrastructure at scale.
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Sport needs nature. All sports leverage nature features, systems, and processes in one way or another.
Even sports that are held in purpose-built stadiums or indoors are still often dependent on natural environments for training and rely upon ecosystem services that support all life such as clean air and water, and pollination to produce nutritious food.
Despite their reliance on nature, sporting events, if not planned and staged with a ‘nature positive’ lens can damage nature. Mega events such as the Olympic and Paralympic Games can consume vast amounts of resources and damage local natural features, biodiversity, and ecosystems.
“Sports take place in all kinds of environments, from marine and natural wetlands to urban parklands, forests, mountains, and even deserts. In all these situations, sport has a strong connection with biodiversity.”
Christophe de Kepper, Director General of the International Olympic Committee (IOC)
Sporting events can have environmental impacts throughout their life cycle. Embodied carbon emissions are generated in the manufacture of materials for the sporting infrastructure developed and carbon is emitted in the construction of sporting venues. Further carbon emissions are produced during the event from travel, broadcasting, merchandise, and food and beverage packaging. Physical damage to the environment and negative effects on local wildlife can occur during sporting events from high levels of foot traffic, litter, noise and light pollution, and destruction of vegetation. Damage can occur to natural waterways from polluted stormwater runoff and microplastics from artificial turf.
While the staging of sporting events can have a high carbon impact, participation in sport is a relatively low carbon, healthy lifestyle choice, when compared to other carbon intensive leisure activities such as gaming or motorsports. Therefore, if sport can be made nature-positive, participation should be encouraged and maximised.
Nature degradation poses significant risks to Brisbane 2032 and sporting events generally. Climate change, leading to an increase in the frequency of natural disasters and climatic extremes, makes the natural environment less safe and threatens the staging of sporting events[4].
Changes to climate averages can permanently affect the viability of sports in some locations. For example, increased solar radiation, higher wind speeds, and increased ambient temperatures can all make running, cycling and water-based sports less safe for athletes and spectators. Decreasing snow levels can make winter sports unviable or affect training opportunities in locations where there were previously high levels of snow.
However, the risks are more than climate related. While Brisbane 2032 has committed to being climate positive, acknowledging that the sporting industry is both at risk from and contributing to climate change is missing in the narrative[4]. Degraded natural places, such as parklands, waterways, hills, and mountains, will cost more to remediate for use before and after the sporting events. If not remediated appropriately after Brisbane 2032, they will affect the ability for the community to continue to use the natural feature for leisure and sporting purposes in the future.
Limiting environmental damage and harm to biodiversity can be achieved through nature positive design from the outset. Reputational and social licence risk can also be better managed and existing community concern over cost and impacts can be mitigated. Remediation costs can also be kept to a minimum through nature positive design and planning approaches.
Designing for nature positivity provides a solution to potential biodiversity degradation resulting from the staging of major sporting events.
A nature positive Brisbane 2032 can be achieved by design and following the review of major Games venues, there is much design to take place. As part of the planning for this work, nature restoration should be a key outcome which is achieved through specific design initiatives and measured through key metrics.
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has brought together a guide, 'Sport and Biodiversity', with the International Olympic Committee that offers practical advice and specific examples of how sport can make a positive contribution to nature conservation[6].
The design process on all Games projects should follow these 7 design steps.
1. Engage an ecologist at the commencement of the project to advise on what ecological systems exist on the site, opportunities for habitat connectivity and harm reduction measures such as reducing light pollution at night, pollution to sensitive waterways, and managing risks posed from roads and traffic.
2. Consider building contribution to biodiversity in the regional context of the site, not just on the site, to target habitat connectivity and species dispersal. Every building and site can be a steppingstone for species dispersal.
3. Include built design features for native fauna, such as native beehives, insect hotels, bird friendly glazing, and nesting boxes to encourage retention and attraction of wildlife to the site, and select landscaping that ensures that ecosystem services are maintained. Another opportunity for the project to act as a steppingstone to facilitate movement, connecting fragments in a regional context. Winter flowering for example, can create critical habitat even if it is just a small area.
4. Work smart not hard. Many design initiatives can be low or no cost, for example, a simple replacement of an ornamental exotic species with a native such as Melaleuca can provide nectar and pollen thereby supporting multiple local species.
5. Design in harmony with natural features which will benefit the sporting events, taking advantage of passive design, the beautiful Queensland weather, prevailing breezes and elevation. This can reduce building heat loads.
6. Include circular economy principles and minimise life cycle impacts by including Life Cycle Analysis as a requirement for all projects. Also focus on building assets that will remain valuable and in use for the long term.
7. Minimise the impacts of spectators through a strategic approach to public transport and spectator waste management. This should include consideration of what products and packaging is available at venues to reduce waste at the source.
Sports and nature are both associated with good health outcomes and are a natural fit. Sport also has a unique ability to engage and influence huge swathes of people across different cultures, languages, ages, and abilities. Sport unites us just as nature degradation affects us all.
At a local level, Brisbane 2032 is an opportunity to raise awareness about environmental issues in Queensland and promote nature protection and restoration. It will also allow local people to discover, rediscover and connect with our local natural areas and biodiversity. And it would promote a healthy lifestyle through actively enjoying natural spaces, thereby enhancing physical and mental wellbeing.
A nature positive Brisbane 2032 will showcase the natural environment to the international community to promote ecotourism. By adopting world’s best practice in nature positivity, Brisbane 2032 can demonstrate Queensland and Australia’s commitment to not only reducing the harmful effects of climate change but preserve biodiversity and the ecosystem services that support life. Many international sporting bodies and events are already adopting sustainable practices. As a wealthy part of the world, it is imperative that Brisbane is part of this leading movement.
A nature positive Brisbane 2032 also aligns with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) including Life on Land and Life Below Water. Brisbane City Council is already committed to the UN SDGs and tracking progress against them. Brisbane 2032 could further this commitment and be another path of compliance with the UN SDGs.
Ultimately, sport has both a responsibility to and an interest in the conservation of nature. Brisbane 2032 is our opportunity to make both sport and nature shine in harmony, together.
[1] Brisbane City Council, October 2020, Biodiversity in Brisbane. Retrieved from Brisbane City Council, accessed June 2024.
[2] Brownlie, S., Bull, J., & Stubbs, D., July 2020. Mitigating Biodiversity Impacts of Sporting Events.
[3] Burton, A., 2019. Bringing Biodiversity to Sports Venues.
[4] Climate Council, March 2021. Brisbane Olympics 2032: The First Climate Positive Olympics, accessed June 2024.
[5] International Olympic Committee, April 2020. Protect Sport by Taking Care of Biodiversity, says new IUCN Guide Supported by the IOC, accessed June 2024.
[6] International Union for the Conservation of Nature, 2020. Sport and Biodiversity. Gland: International Union for Conservation of Nature.
[7] Kusi, F. A., April 2023. Practical Approaches to Biodiversity Conservation Through Sport, accessed June 2024.
[8] Poole, C., May 2018. Why Sport is a Home Run for Biodiversity Protection, accessed June 2024.
[9] Queensland Government, September 2021. State of the Environment Report 2020. Retrieved from Species and Habitat, accessed June 2024.
Aurecon is not a sponsor of the Australian Olympic Committee Incorporated, the International Olympic Committee, any Summer or Winter Olympic Games, the organising committee for any Summer or Winter Olympic Games, an Australian Olympic team, a section of an Australian Olympic team, or an individual member of an Australian Olympic team. This material is not intended to suggest that Aurecon has any formal association with, or has provided any sponsorship or sponsorship-like support for, any of these parties.
[1] Brisbane City Council, October 2020, Biodiversity in Brisbane. Retrieved from Brisbane City Council, accessed June 2024.
[2] Brownlie, S., Bull, J., & Stubbs, D., July 2020. Mitigating Biodiversity Impacts of Sporting Events.
[3] Burton, A., 2019. Bringing Biodiversity to Sports Venues.
[4] Climate Council, March 2021. Brisbane Olympics 2032: The First Climate Positive Olympics, accessed June 2024.
[5] International Olympic Committee, April 2020. Protect Sport by Taking Care of Biodiversity, says new IUCN Guide Supported by the IOC, accessed June 2024.
[6] International Union for the Conservation of Nature, 2020. Sport and Biodiversity. Gland: International Union for Conservation of Nature.
[7] Kusi, F. A., April 2023. Practical Approaches to Biodiversity Conservation Through Sport, accessed June 2024.
[8] Poole, C., May 2018. Why Sport is a Home Run for Biodiversity Protection, accessed June 2024.
[9] Queensland Government, September 2021. State of the Environment Report 2020. Retrieved from Species and Habitat, accessed June 2024.
Aurecon is not a sponsor of the Australian Olympic Committee Incorporated, the International Olympic Committee, any Summer or Winter Olympic Games, the organising committee for any Summer or Winter Olympic Games, an Australian Olympic team, a section of an Australian Olympic team, or an individual member of an Australian Olympic team. This material is not intended to suggest that Aurecon has any formal association with, or has provided any sponsorship or sponsorship-like support for, any of these parties.
Associate, Sustainable Systems – Australia
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