The second key point is the recognition that the sustainability standards now being set by both LOCOG and the ODA are having an influence on other projects and industry sectors.
'...There is an expectation that London 2012 will 'set new standards of sustainability'. This is happening in construction where the ODA is setting an excellent example which should be followed by other public sector construction projects. We expect London 2012 to have a positive influence over other sectors such as event management, transport, catering, property development, education and the general public.'
This is something I have noticed too. It is really gratifying to hear suppliers and other partners tell us that because of the sustainability questions we have been asking of them, they have taken a fresh look at some of their own practices and made changes which are already proving beneficial to their businesses. This is what I call a 'living legacy' of the Games.
Of course we still have lots more to do. The scope of what we're doing across the project is pretty vast – and in places, extremely challenging. We don’t profess to have the answers to everything just yet, but we aren’t shying away from the issues. In many respects there is no template for us to follow – CSL's report acknowledges for example that our work on measuring the carbon footprint of the London 2012 project is groundbreaking. This is in fact the first part of our much awaited carbon management strategy which will set out later this year how we plan to reduce our carbon footprint, continue to measure it, assure our performance and finally address the impact of unavoidable, residual greenhouse gas emissions.
It is no exaggeration to say that this will be of interest to other major event organisers and future host cities as well as construction and infrastructure projects generally. The issues are complex but common to all. The solutions are certainly not simple. But in the year of next United Nations Climate Change Conference (in Copenhagen in December) when world leaders will come together to discuss future policy on climate change, it is all the more exciting that London 2012 can be part of this wider debate. More living legacy.
