Climate change

To reduce the greenhouses gases associated with the Olympic Park and venues we are:

• designing buildings to use less energy;
• using lower carbon alternatives;
• building a wind turbine; and
• selecting materials that require less energy to produce them.

We also aim to transport half of the materials (by weight) we will need to construct the venues at the Olympic Park by water or rail.

Waste

We aim to reduce our waste during the demolition, remediation and construction phases, as well as designing venues efficiently. At least 20 per cent (by value) of demolition materials used in permanent venues will be reused or recycled on-site or at other locations.

Achievements:

• The ODA are currently exceeding the target of reusing or recycling 90 per cent of demolition materials.

Biodiversity

The Olympic Park site is mainly former industrial land which is badly degraded and highly polluted. However, there are still areas of important natural habitat which will be conserved and will form key parts of the future landscape of the Park. They will be linked to the wider countryside through natural corridors.

Enhancing biodiversity is central to our programme. Land and waterways will be improved. We will not only protect, but enhance much of the most valuable natural resources where they are found. Where areas are cleared, we will try to relocate wildlife temporarily and re-introduce them at a later stage.

Achievements:

• As part of work to prepare the Olympic Park site we have already undertaken surveys and relocations of key species. These include: collecting native plant seeds so they can be re-planted later on in the project; moving fish, newts and reptiles to local sites during the construction phase of the project; and creating an artificial nest for sand martins along the Lower Lea Valley.

Inclusion

We have already started to ensure that communities around the Olympic Park, and across London and the UK, can feel part of, contribute to and benefit from the Games.

For example, an online service has been established to help people living in the five Host Boroughs around the Olympic Park (Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest and Greenwich) to access jobs on site.

Achievements:

• More than 20 per cent of people employed on the powerlines project, the first major works to take place on the Olympic Park site, were from the local area (and a further 25 per cent from the rest of London) in July 2007.
• The London 2012 Games is made up of two separate events: the Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games. We are planning and managing both events together, using the same brand concept, and undertaking to provide the same level of service to athletes, officials and spectators at both events. This is the first time this has been done in the history of the Games.

Healthy living

We are committed to maximising the health benefits of the Games for the construction workforce and local communities. Locating the Olympic Park in east London, which currently lacks good quality open space and high quality sporting facilities, should make a large contribution to encourage healthy living. 

We are also developing an Occupational Health and Safety Strategy to promote better health among construction workers.

Achievements:

• Sustainability requirements are being incorporated into all sponsor contracts, and for a core group of companies the specific designation of ‘Sustainability Partner’ has been created. These companies will focus their London 2012 activities and promotions on sustainability.