Net-zero target at the 5th Military World Winter Games

As part of the sustainability initiative for the 5th Military World Winter Games 2025, the service agreement was signed today with Edaphos Engineering SA, an international company specializing in innovative and environmentally friendly solutions for the decontamination of soils, but also for the biological sequestration of CO2 in the soil. The service agreement provides for net-zero offsetting of the CO2 emissions generated by the Winter Military World Games. In this context, at least 500 tons of CO2 equivalent (tCO2e) will be sequestered early, starting in 2024, for the 2025 Winter Military World Games.

1/13/2025

Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time – for Switzerland and globally. In order to reduce emissions of climate-relevant greenhouse gases and thus slow down global warming, the international community of states adopted a new agreement on climate protection at the climate conference in Paris at the end of 2015. The aim of the Paris Agreement is to limit average global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, with the aim of achieving a maximum temperature increase of 1.5 degrees Celsius. Switzerland ratified the Paris Agreement on October 6, 2017. It has set itself a CO₂ reduction target of 50% by 2030 compared to 1990 and has also announced a non-binding overall reduction target of 70 to 85% by 2050. On August 22, 2020, the Federal Council raised this climate target: Switzerland is now aiming for a net zero greenhouse gas balance by 2050.

In the context of the 2025 Winter Military World Games, 1,700 tons of tCO₂e emissions have been predicted. A large proportion of these emissions result from transportation (delegation travel, transportation of equipment and transportation of troops to prepare for the games), accommodation, and the preparation and distribution of meals for the athletes and troops. The efforts of the Swiss CISM delegation, the organizer of the 5th Military World Winter Games, to achieve a net-zero balance requires the search for new solutions.

In order to minimize the impact of the games, the organizing committee has decided to take important reduction measures. For example, some disciplines such as ski cross have been abandoned due to the enormous amounts of water and energy needed to produce artificial snow for the temporary formation of ski slopes. Furthermore, public transport is used whenever possible and reasonable. In addition, the Games are based on existing infrastructure, both in terms of accommodation and venues. Furthermore, special emphasis is placed on waste separation and reduction. To minimize food waste, meals are served by the Games' own staff. At the same time, care is taken to use local products in order to strengthen regional value chains and prevent unnecessary CO₂ emissions.

In addition, the compensation of residual emissions, in accordance with internationally recognized standards, includes the purchase of compensation certificates through the United Nations Development Program. This makes it possible to finance development projects. Currently, this compensation must take place abroad in order to comply with the principle of single counting of each reduction. In this context, the contract with Edaphos Engineering SA is based on an innovative offsetting method that enables a net zero CO₂ balance. The technology of Edaphos Engineering SA aims to biologically sequester the entire 1,700 tons of CO₂e between 2024 and 2025 on properties in Switzerland, i.e. to store CO₂ in the soil. The implementation of this technology at Swiss locations contributes to the reduction and long-term storage of CO₂. This innovative approach not only ensures the climate neutrality of the Military World Winter Games, but also has long-term positive effects for the environment and climate.

The aim of this sustainable event management is to show that major international sporting events can be organized in an economically responsible, socially sustainable and environmentally friendly manner, without compromising sporting excellence.