Rally Japan was awarded three stars, the highest rank in the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile) Environmental Certification Programme, last year. This programme aims to support stakeholders in motorsports and mobility around the world in measuring and improving their environmental performance. It is a three-tiered rating system that examines 17 sections, including ‘environmental management’, ‘energy use’ and ‘waste management’.
The FIA World Rally Championship FORUM8 Rally Japan 2024, which will be held from Thursday 21st to Sunday 24th November 2024, is aiming to be even more environmentally friendly than the previous year.
This year, under the theme of ‘Experience Carbon Neutrality at Rally Japan’, a new carbon neutral experience area will be set up in the West Event Square at the Toyota Stadium, the rally’s base. Visitors will be able to experience carbon neutrality through activities such as learning about the 100% sustainable fuel used in the WRC, seeing the carbon neutral vehicles that compete in the Super Taikyu series, and trying out hydrogen footbaths and pedal-powered generators. In addition, the electricity used in the surrounding booths, including this area, will be supplied by the mobile power generation and supply system ‘Moving e’ and the hydrogen fuel cell vehicle ‘FC Office Car’, with the cooperation of Toyota Motor Corporation.
Last year, in addition to energy sources such as hydrogen power and solar power, the event used green power certificates to provide 100% clean energy for the main venue, Toyota Stadium. This year, the organisers will aim to make the event even more environmentally friendly than last year, by using 100% clean energy to power not only Toyota Stadium, but also all the electricity used at Rally Japan, as well as continuing to actively use environmentally friendly materials and provide environmental education for children.
Carbon Neutral Experience Area
In addition to energy sources such as hydrogen power and solar power, the rally will use green electricity certificates to ensure that all the electricity used for Rally Japan is 100% clean energy.
◆Hydrogen power generation (in collaboration with Toyota Motor Corporation)
・hydrogen power generation ▶ Power supply to surrounding booths, including the carbon neutral experience area
◆Solar power generation
・Existing solar panels ▶ Used as electricity for Toyota Stadium
◆Green Power Certificate (*)
In addition to the above initiatives, we also use green electricity certificates.
(※) A certificate issued by a third-party organisation (the Japan Quality Assurance Organization) that certifies the environmental value of electricity generated from renewable energy. By purchasing a certificate, the amount of electricity listed on the certificate is considered to have been generated using green electricity.
・ The dishes used at the food and drink booths will be made from non-plastic materials.
・Kitchen cars will be using cutlery made from rice resin (a non-plastic material made from rice that is no longer edible). (In cooperation with ACT Co., Ltd.)
・The tabards worn by marshals and volunteers are made from recycled plastic.
One of the features of the Rally Japan is the use of forest roads in Aichi and Gifu prefectures for the competition course. The rally cars race through the mountains against a backdrop of beautiful autumn leaves, thanks to the forests that have been passed down from previous generations and are still being protected today by human hands. As preserving the forests is also extremely important for achieving carbon neutrality, the role played by the mountains will be conveyed to spectators and local elementary and junior high school students.
Environmental education was provided to elementary and junior high school students from local authorities (Toyota City, Okazaki City, Shinshiro City, Shitara Town, Nagoya City, Ena City, Nakatsugawa City, etc.) in the form of rally classes. The rally classes explained what rally is and what its appeal is, while also conveying to the children, who will be shaping the future, that the world rally championship Rally Japan will be held in their local area, and that Rally Japan is taking on the challenge of being environmentally friendly.
▶ 10 sessions, 13 schools
The Rally Japan 2024 Commission recognises the need for environmental conservation in the context of the FIA World Rally Championship FORUM8 Rally Japan 2024, and will work to understand and minimise the environmental impact of the event in order to fulfil its responsibilities. We will also work to raise awareness by sharing our values of environmental consideration with all those involved.
We will strictly adhere to the following manifesto and aim to operate a sustainable event that is environmentally friendly.
1. We will strive to comply with environmental requirements in accordance with international and domestic legal frameworks.
2. We will promote environmentally friendly initiatives together with all stakeholders.
(1) To create an environmentally friendly event
・We will actively use clean energy for the Rally.
・We will minimise the amount of waste generated by the rally as much as possible, and will promote recycling and reuse by implementing effective sorting and disposal.
・We will appropriately encourage spectators to sort and take their own rubbish home with them
・Wastewater that affects the environment is collected and treated appropriately. In addition, we will minimise the use of water.
・We aim to achieve sustainable procurement that is environmentally friendly in collaboration with our suppliers.
・We will actively use environmentally friendly materials for the materials used in the rally’s operations.
・We encourage the Commission members and other related parties (suppliers, media, spectators, etc.) to use public transport and carpooling.
・We will measure the total carbon dioxide emissions of the Games, analyse the causes of these emissions, and aim to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030.
（２）Forest conservation
・In this area, people have worked hard to preserve the forest for many years, so it is possible to hold rally competitions that make use of forest roads.
Through this competition, we will communicate the appeal of mountain villages both in Japan and overseas, and convey the role that forests play.
・We will conduct regular environmental surveys and strive to avoid impacting the ecological environment of plants and animals.
（３）Education for Children
・We will create opportunities for elementary and junior high school students to think about a sustainable society based on the FIA World Rally Championship.
3. We will take the necessary measures to ensure that our environmental targets and policies, which we have set in line with the FIA Environmental Certification Programme, are evaluated and managed appropriately once a year, and that they are continuously improved.
June 2024
Rally Japan 2024 Executive Committee
Chairman Minoru Ohta
