Olympics eco credentials under attack

The London Assembly Environment Committee has warned that the Olympic village may struggle to meet key environmental commitments highlighted in the 2012 bid.

London’s bid for the Olympic games promised to work towards energy self-sufficiency. Recent reports however claim that only 2% of the energy generated on the village site will be coming from renewable sources.

The report follows the Olympic Delivery Authority’s announcement for plans to erect a wind turbine at the Olympics site to boost the games’ green credentials.

Chair of the assembly environment committee Darren Johnson, said: "It is deeply disappointing that even at this early stage the encouraging environmental commitments of London's bid for the Olympics are being allowed to slip. The games should be a showcase for sustainable development and it must be of great concern that for the Olympic village the green baton has already been dropped."

The ODA however claimed that the turbine will play a key role in delivering renewable energy to the Olympic Park and be a visible symbol of London 2012's commitment to deliver its goal of staging the most sustainable ever Olympic and Paralympic games.

The ODA added that it is only one of many green energy technologies under consideration including solar power, ground water cooling, small scale hydro/tidal power, biomass and a combined cooling and heating plant.

London mayor Ken Livingstone said: “We always said that the 2012 games would be the most environmentally friendly ever and the wind turbine is the first step of many towards delivering on our commitment. I am determined that London will lead the way in tackling climate change and I am setting tough but achievable renewable energy targets for the way all new buildings are constructed in the capital.”

The London Assembly questioned representatives from the ODA and the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games on their key environmental objectives and standards.

ODA chief executive David Higgins said: “We want to make use of as many innovative renewable technologies as possible to power the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games and will be looking to industry to provide us with creative solutions in the months ahead.”

He added: “The wind turbine on the Olympic Park will be a symbol of the sustainability principles behind the Games. As the first large scale wind turbine so close to central London it will also act as a ‘green’ beacon for the capital.”