This summers much talked about Olympic games in Beijing claims to be “basically” carbon neutral due to energy saving techniques like the use of solar power and afforestation programs, senior officials said this month.

The Technology Minister Wan Gang said the event would produce 1.18 million tones of CO₂ mostly due to athletes and spectators who have to travel a long way to get there.

“The ‘Green Olympics’ will take a series of measures, including technological ones, like planting of trees and controlling the use of vehicles, to reduce emissions by between 1 million and 1.29 million tonnes,” Wan told a news conference.

China has restricted the use of cars on some roads to prevent excessive CO₂ emissions and to prevent traffic on their already busy streets and highways. Officials are trying to find alternatives to transportation devices such as the use and promotion of hybrid electronic cars.

Wan said, “We can basically ensure that emissions will be balanced – In particular, over 500 new energy vehicles will be used, which will be the first time that central areas of the Olympics will be zero emission in the history of the Games.” (Quote from Environmental News Network)

Eighty percent of rainwater will be used and ten percent of reusable waste water will be used from non-sewage and non-chemical water sites. Solar, wind and geothermal power will also be used for electricity and lighting at Olympic sites and other sites in the Beijing.

With this in mind hopefully china will set a good example to the rest of the world by holding the first carbon neutral Olympics.