Lessons for London

Five key commitments London should be planning for

1

London must provide a structure with appropriate resources to focus on integrating the sustainability agenda set by the bid. Qualified people are being procured within the delivery and event organisations – the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) and the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG). They are charged with defining, managing and articulating sustainability. To do so they need to make clear the organisational commitment that will translate promises to outcomes.

2

It is critical to integrate sustainability into the way business is conducted – that is, the way projects are designed and delivered, and how the Olympic workforce is trained and managed. Systems for integrating sustainability into the ODA’s venue design and delivery mandate and similarly into the LOCOG’s event planning must be devised and effectively implemented. To that end London has committed to develop a sustainability management system, the first such system for the Olympic movement.

3

No single organisation is capable of delivering on the bid’s environmental or social commitments. So the Olympic delivery authorities must build and maintain effective partnerships. Partners, such as sponsors, consultants and business and community groups, may provide much needed resources and expertise.

4

There needs to be a strategy to educate and train what will become a huge contracted and volunteer workforce. Sydney 2000 provided induction training to every one of the 67,000 volunteers and 35,000 contractors as well as specific skills training to those at the environmental coalface
during the Games period.

5

There is a need to communicate to a vast and varied audience the achievements of the Games’ sustainability agenda. Talking about the challenges, letting people know what the journey is about and mediating against false expectations, is critical. An Olympic communications strategy should be implemented as a matter of priority.

The environmental themes that won London the Olympics

In its bid the London team pledged to make the 2012 Olympics a sustainable games, both as an event and through its regeneration of the Olympic park as a model for sustainable urban development. Its pledges are made under four themes and include:

Low carbon

• A safe network of cycle paths and footpaths will be provided.
• The Olympic Park will be a low-emission zone, with low or no-emission vehicles used during the games
• New buildings will be developed according to best practice to proof against future climate change, minimise energy demands, manage energy consumption and respect the surrounding architectural heritage
• The London Climate Control Agency will help to devise a programme to neutralise carbon emissions generated by the games.
  Zero waste
• Waste will be minimised at source
• Recycling will be maximised
• A sustainable procurement policy will inform the sourcing of materials, services, food and merchandise for the games
• Waste materials will be used as energy sources

Conserving biodiversity

• The Games legacy will transform the Lower Lea Valley into a major urban park
• The park will be planted with native species of trees, including oak, ash and birch to create a home for wildlife
• A network of footpaths, cycleways and canal towpaths will link communities on either side of the valley
• The natural river system of the valley will be restored, canals dredged and waterways widened. There will be 3 ha of new wetland habitat

Promoting environmental awareness and partnerships

• The London 2012 team is working in partnership with WWF and BioRegional

Sustainability and the Olympic Games – Sydney’s top 10 approaches

1

Identified key principles From the initial stages of the planning process, both the environment and sustainability were identified as key drivers. Policies giving performance expectations were set for a number of key areas including energy efficiency, greenhouse gases, water and waste water, construction materials and waste, pollution control, and transport.

2

Planning A long planning process ensured that the outcomes were risk managed as well as possible. Key to this was developing and embedding environmental and sustainability management systems in the planning and delivery of the venue and infrastructure and the Games themselves.

3

Goal setting Achievable goals were set for every aspect of the design, procurement, construction and operation of the facilities to ensure that the environmental and sustainability principals were integrated and achieved.

4

Embedment The key principles and goals were embedded into every process required to procure a successful Olympics and legacy.

5

Structure The formation of OCA and SOCOG and their resourcing helped the continual collaborative process.

6

Education and training All workers and volunteers were trained and educated to ensure operational success and to understand the Games’ green ethos.

7

Stakeholder Engagement Forming and maintaining partnerships with all stakeholders ensured that the project was transparent and that ownership was shared.

8

Communication The success story of the “Green Games” was told to the world in a compelling and accessible way using multi-media communication tools.

9

Measurement Real environmental and sustainability outcomes were measured against the goals set by the Games.

10

Transfer of knowledge The knowledge gathered in Sydney has been shared widely for the benefit of future generations. Sydney’s Games showcased environmental solutions across a wide range of areas and promoted change within the local building and contracting industries.