http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/04/19/organizers_look_to_lessen_marathons_environmental_impact/
Across the country, numerous marathon organizer's are finding ways to make their operations more sustainable and to lessen the impact of the environment. In this article, the Boston Marathon, one of the least environmentally friendly marathons in the country, is taking strides to improve its image as a more ecologically friendly event.
To understand the depth of environmental degradation that occurs in order to hold the marathon, here is a description. During the marathon, they will use more than 1,000 gallons of diesel in 525 buses to transport the runners. 1.4 Million non-biodegradable cups will be distributed by 8,000 volunteers filled with either water or gatorade. As the pre-race meal, organizers will serve 11,300 lbs of pasta and 3,400 lbs of vegetables.
This isn't a clear example of one specific level of sustainability planning. I would tend to classify it under neighborhood planning only because it is being spearheaded by a specific community. It is clear, however, that local and state planning also influenced the event. In order to inhabit more sustainable practices, marathon organizer's are buying more than 22,440 carbon emission credits. They replaced the pace-setting motorcycles that carry the elite runners with electric scooters that average 357 miles per gallon and they plan to compost all left over food and biodegradable refuse. In association with the State Department of Corrections, "green teams" assembled of inmates will collect discarded cups, bottles and blankets.
This is primarily an energy and waste problem. It would seem that local government planning would be the natural second choice for affecting issues such as that of the Boston Marathon. The City of Boston could implement restrictions on large events. Policies could be passed that would cap the amount of waste produced by any single event, and emission or waste credits would have to be purchased in order to exceed that level. This could prove problematic, and possibly cause the city's tax revenue to drop significantly if such large events chose to relocate to another city that has looser restrictions.
Sustainable practices could be implemented at the state level, but this could prove to be even more politically problematic. Consensus over sustainable practices could be achieved locally, but state consensus over policies that could potentially conflict or slightly prohibit economic development would be much more difficult to pass. Elements of sustainable planning, especially event planning, could be handled by several levels of government in order to achieve maximum results. We already see this in this story, with the State partnering with the event organizers in order to collect waste discarded by runners. Indeed, collaboration of multiple levels of government would seem to be the optimal choice for sustainability planning.
I like your assessment that this is an example of a NOT a clear action of one specific level of sustainability planning. Although you would tend to classify it under neighborhood planning, I would venture in stating that it is a program planning action.
ReplyDeleteIt is clear that the sustainability issue addresses a specific group of the "public" - that is marathon runners, however, neighborhood, local and state planning also influenced for the event is composed of a group that crosses jurisdictional borders.
I enjoyed reading your analysis. This is a great example of how environmental planning needs to come from all of us - even a Marathon. Hopefully other marathons and organizations that host similar activities will begin to make the needed steps to make the events more environmentally friendly. I also agree that the local government should get more involved in the process for events that take place within their districts.
ReplyDeleteGreat analysis. I think one simple idea would be to include some fees into the marathon registration price to cover the cost using more sustainable goods like biodegradable cornstarch cups.
ReplyDeleteI find this to be a very interesting article. I have never once thought about the environmental impact of a marathon. I agree with most of what you say, especially the idea that there could be a problem if events are relocated due to the imposed policies by the city. I'm glad to see that the Boston Marathon coordinators are thinking about their environmental impact.
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