2012 Olympics: a mixed record so far on environmental issues

Article taken from the Financial Times. To view article, click here

When London bid to host the 2012 Olympics, it put sustainability at the core of its pitch. Its winning concept, "Towards a One Planet Olympics", was based on the notion that if the entire world's population lived a typical British lifestyle people would require the resources of three planets.

It was on the back of this idea that London pledged to stage the greenest games in history. Back in 2005, that pledge loosely translated into making the games carbon neutral.

Since no industrial operation can ever be entirely emissions-free, the term is largely synonymous with carbon offsetting - when an organisation funds an environmental scheme, generally in a developing nation, to counteract the emissions resulting from its operations. Over the past few years, however, offsetting has attracted a growing number of critics who say that pay-to-pollute schemes have little real impact on emissions levels and fail to discourage rich nations from cleaning up their acts.

"Offsetting is a false solution," says Robin Webster of environmental lobby group Friends of the Earth. "The focus needs to be on emissions reduction, both in the UK and abroad, rather than playing one country off another." Such criticisms have spurred demand for certified offsets, which demonstrate that real emissions reductions have taken place. One of the most widely recognised certification is the Gold Standard.

Partially as a result of this shift in attitude, Olympics officials have now distanced themselves from the concept of carbon neutrality, opting instead, in their words, to "reduce" and "mitigate" the carbon footprint of the games. However, they are considering offsetting some elements of the event, such as flights, through Gold Standard projects.

In spite of this change in attitude, the Olympic Flame will still be carbon-neutral, although EDF, the primary energy provider to the games, says this is a symbolic gesture.

Under its sponsorship agreement, EDF will provide 24MW of energy to the games, all of which will come from renewable sources, such as wind power. To put this figure into perspective, 24MW is only a single megawatt more than is needed to power a single square km of Central London. London, however, does have the highest load density in Europe.

If the Olympics uses less than the agreed amount of energy, EDF will keep half the savings. If the games use more, however, authorities will be subject to "open-book" pricing - the prevailing electricity price on the open market, rather than a previously-agreed rate, which would probably be much lower.

"London is under a lot of pressure to control costs so if it runs short on renewable energy, it could face some tough decisions," says Cindy Cahill of consultancy Deloitte, one of the advisers to the games. "The credit crisis means it has been more difficult to get the same level of sponsorship than would have been available previously, so paying a premium for green energy versus cheaper fossil fuels is not going to be an easy choice."

David Stubbs of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (Locog) says it is impossible to predict at this stage how much energy will be needed during the event. "Our first objective is to get a handle on our climate impact and then work out how to avoid our emissions," he says.

According to a recent estimate, the games will produce 3.4m tonnes of CO2. This compares with total annual UK emissions of around 550m tonnes.

It is hard to say if this is good or bad; because London has never staged an event on this scale, it has no point of reference from which to benchmark the environmental impact of the games. Information from previous host cities is only partially reliable, because the post-games environmental records of recent hosts such as Beijing, Athens and Sydney vary considerably.

Until now, no city has attempted to track all the energy embedded in hosting an Olympics, from the construction materials used to build the Olympic venues, to the transport of athletes and spectators.

So far, London's scorecard is mixed, according to Shaun McCarthy, chair of the Commission for a Sustainable London 2012, the independent body charged with monitoring the environmental impact of the games.

The commission's latest report praised London's target to reuse or recycle 90 per cent of construction waste, particularly as more than half the CO2 emissions associated with the games are embodied in the construction process.

The commission has also lauded plans for an on-site combined cooling, heating and power plant, which will be 30 per cent more efficient than a traditional generator. The plant will include biomass boilers and have the capacity to switch from natural gas to other low-carbon and renewable fuel sources.

However, Mr McCarthy says games officials are lagging in the search for alternative biogas energy sources. "There's a whole range of technologies available that would provide a low or zero carbon source of power, but there's been confusion over who is accountable," he says. "I'm getting a bit impatient now. The fact is we first made this recommendation two years ago and it still hasn't happened."

He adds that London has the added challenge of living up to a milestone year on the environmental calendar.

Domestically, 2012 is significant because it marks the final year of Britain's first carbon budget. The budget commits the UK to legally binding emissions cuts, so London's failure to stage a low-carbon Olympics would prove highly embarrassing. It is also the year the 1997 Kyoto treaty on climate change expires. Provided a successor is agreed, 2012 will usher in a new era of solutions to tackle global warming. The long-anticipated Earth Summit also takes place in 2012.

"It's an important year for the environment so London has a real opportunity to show the world what Britain is capable of achieving," says Mr McCarthy. "Our recommendations are a matter of urgency now, because time is short. It would be a travesty if we couldn't meet our 2012 goals."

Your Feedback

Other Users Feedback

bril

Bemp, city group - 02/02/2010
coool

hi, cooperative - 07/12/2010
coool

hi, haygrove - 07/12/2010
rubbish

sam, j - 08/05/2011
i think it had a lot of information about the 2012 but i think you need to try to make it a ot more easier to read.

philip dabinski, n/a - 01/06/2011
jhhhhhhhheeeezhzhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

how could any1 be sooooooo crazy about the olympiczzzzzzzz

no mcnono, erm - 05/06/2011
Bad

Never find out, Usuckorg - 24/06/2011
Bad

Never find out, Usuckorg - 24/06/2011
cock

d, d - 16/08/2011
This is absolute RIDIC!

Jessssssica Boooooher, none - 26/10/2011
hey this is great :)

jordan jacob , school - 08/11/2011
hey this is great :)

jordan jacob , school - 08/11/2011
Im such a bad man in it, this is so don =)

Joel Perrera, iafhrifllbfzlba - 08/11/2011
Im such a bad man in it, this is so don =)

Joel Perrera, iafhrifllbfzlba - 08/11/2011
hey this is great :)

jordan jacob , school - 08/11/2011
This is so cool in it fam

Arun Tolentino, sygnapore cars - 08/11/2011
this is the best ever i luv my life i finaly have a reason to live

jonathon britan , work - 08/11/2011
this is the best ever i luv my life i finaly have a reason to live

jonathon britan , work - 08/11/2011
Give me your money or ill hack this website

Potatoes, albert bartlett rooster potatoes - 08/11/2011
this is the best ever i luv my life i finaly have a reason to live

jonathon britan , work - 08/11/2011
this is the best ever i luv my life i finaly have a reason to live

jonathon britan , work - 08/11/2011
LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLfasjddiololbuhkdfbhasfsghoagfqbgsfagasdffuabvguysdfauyvgffaguyksdfaguysdfaguyfdsrabvuawevgusuavukgsavgksdavgjkfsvhksfavhkddf

agbabfbhialsdglbuiasdgasbglsgablsgabjlsbgjla, asffabhklfgasjhagjkgabjhfgbh,abhkgbf - 08/11/2011
i steal phones lol

jordan da jacobson , lol - 08/11/2011
i steal phones lol

jordan da jacobson , lol - 08/11/2011
im so red i love andreia so much imeagine me with s sun burn !

CALLUM JEFFERY , gay - 08/11/2011
Im got a lot of French Fries on my head

Chris measuere, Chips - 08/11/2011
im so red i love andreia so much imeagine me with s sun burn !

CALLUM JEFFERY , gay - 08/11/2011
this is shit end of

ash benjamin , being a don - 09/11/2011
this is shit end of

ash benjamin , being a don - 09/11/2011
this is shit end of

ash benjamin , being a don - 09/11/2011
yes

gvtrg, vrlfvjhrlv - 20/01/2012
yes

gvtrg, vrlfvjhrlv - 20/01/2012
I think this site is fantastic it has all of the effects caused by these baffoons of a goverment good on you overall spiffing

Prince Charles, Stop Sopa - 20/01/2012
I think this site is fantastic it has all of the effects caused by these baffoons of a goverment good on you overall spiffing

Prince Charles, Stop Sopa - 20/01/2012
hahahahab im don

filip meyer, BINMANIA - 20/04/2012
London 2012 Olympics is fast approaching, we just hope that this event can even help mother earth for it is also part of its cause.

[url=http://www.contentrules.com/]tech comm[/url]

darren, personal - 06/05/2012
We knew, London 2012 Olympics is fast approaching, we just hope that this event can even help mother earth for it is also part of its cause.

tech comm

darren, personal - 06/05/2012
Needs to be easier to read

Anonymous, Ninja school for ninjas - 16/06/2012
very useful

thatguyyouknow, that place - 20/06/2012
You're insecure, don't know what for. You're turning heads when you walk through the door. Don't need make-up, to cover up. Being the way that you are is enough.
Everyone else in the room can see it, everyone else but you,

BABY YOU LIGHT UP MY WORLD LIKE NOBODY ELSE,
THE WAY THAT YOU FLIP YOUR HAIR GETS ME OVERWHELMED,
BUT WHEN YOU SMILE AT THE GROUND IT AIN'T HARD TO TELL,
YOU DON'T KNOW OH OH, YOU DON'T KNOW YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL
OH OH OH, THATS WHAT MAKES YOU B E A U T I F U L.

pie, is great. - 01/08/2012
Awesome article, just checked out the source and I am very impressed.
wejscie tutaj

Dan Sullivan, TTR - 10/12/2012
Awesome article, just checked out the source and I am very impressed.
wejscie tutaj

Dan Sullivan, TTR - 10/12/2012
Amazing stuff,Thanks so much for this!This is very useful post for me. This will absolutely going to help me in my projects.hublot replica\\Rolex Replica

aisin, OTC - 05/01/2013
While the introduction section of an essay is important in outlining the main ideas and setting the tone, the essay body is also important.
argumentative essay topics

Adam, essay - 08/01/2013
little real impact on emissions levels and fail to discourage rich nations from cleaning up their acts. essayontime opinion

scot, dream solution - 11/01/2013
UK and abroad, rather than playing one country off another." Such criticisms have spurred demand for certified offsets, which demonstrate that real emissions reductions have taken place. One of the most widely recognised certification is the Gold Standard. online casino


cool, fd - 11/01/2013
The commission's latest report praised London's target to reuse or recycle 90 per cent of construction waste, particularly as more than half the CO2 emissions associated with the games are embodied in the construction process. http://rushessay.org/essay-help

Joy, actions - 16/01/2013
construction materials used to build the Olympic venues, to the transport of athletes and spectators. Virtual office London

cronescot, scorcrene - 25/01/2013
construction materials used to build the Olympic venues, to the transport of athletes and spectators. Virtual office London

cronescot, scorcrene - 25/01/2013
London's scorecard is mixed, according to Shaun McCarthy, chair of the Commission for a Sustainable London 2012, the independent body charged with monitoring the environmental impact of the games. Cheap Website Design

Cheap Website Design, seo - 26/01/2013
London's target to reuse or recycle 90 per cent of construction waste, particularly as more than half the CO2 emissions associated with the games are embodied in the construction process. fullerton criminal lawyer

fullerton criminal lawyer, seo - 31/01/2013
Olympics uses less than the agreed amount of energy, EDF will keep half the savings. If the games use more, however, authorities will be subject to "open-book" pricing - the prevailing electricity price on the open market, rather than a previously-agreed rate, which would probably be much lower. be naughty scam

be naughty scam, seo - 01/02/2013
the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (Locog) says it is impossible to predict at this stage how much energy will be needed during the event. "Our first objective is to get a handle on our climate impact and then work out how to avoid our emissions," he says. pmo project management

rock, SEO - 02/02/2013
this figure into perspective, 24MW is only a single megawatt more than is needed to power a single square km of Central London. London, however, does have the highest load density in Europe. slot machine gratis

slot machine gratis, seo - 02/02/2013
Since no industrial operation can ever be entirely emissions-free, the term is largely synonymous with carbon offsetting - when an organisation funds an environmental scheme, generally in a developing nation, to counteract the emissions resulting from its operations.dentist van nuys, ca

rock, seo - 04/02/2013
"Towards a One Planet Olympics", was based on the notion that if the entire world's population lived a typical British lifestyle people would require the resources of three planets. film-streaming-italia.com

rock, seo - 04/02/2013
Olympics uses less than the agreed amount of energy, EDF will keep half the savings. If the games use more, however, authorities will be subject to "open-book" pricing - the prevailing electricity price on the open market, rather than a previously-agreed rate, which would probably be much lower.
newegg promo codes

chris, zjburch - 11/02/2013
Finally I found some legitimate understanding of what the whole olympics game show is about. Thanks for enlightening the bored people all over the world. discover more here


jason santa, http://infertilityi.blogspot.com - 15/02/2013
When London bid to host the 2012 Olympics, it put sustainability at the core of its pitch. Its winning concept, "Towards a One Planet Olympics", was based on the notion that if the entire world's population lived a typical British lifestyle people would require the resources of three planets. los angeles heating and air

rock, seo - 15/02/2013
A lot of including jewelry and wrist watch, the international brand of a gleam of all men began to tailor its own set auger ring and wrist replica watches

breitling replica, rw - 16/02/2013
A lot of including jewelry and wrist watch, the international brand of a gleam of all men began to tailor its own set auger ring and wrist replica watches

breitling replica, rw - 16/02/2013
Over the past few years, however, offsetting has attracted a growing number of critics who say that pay-to-pollute schemes have little real impact on emissions levels and fail to discourage rich nations from cleaning up their acts. accountant los angeles

rock, seo - 18/02/2013

und unser Freund wünscht, viagra wirkung neben dem serbischen Gesetzbuch erhellt aus . Nella seconda parte il sig. cialis 5 mg colla sua corte erasi imbarcato a Miseno.


sdvs, ff - 19/02/2013
This is a fantastic website about 2012 olypmics. Great numbers!
3 credit scores

Marion, Marion Inc - 22/02/2013
This is a fantastic website about 2012 olypmics. Great numbers!
3 credit scores

Marion, Marion Inc - 22/02/2013
Past year Olympics has clearly become the game of becoming a super power city and just saying they are doing it in a sustainable way. www.twitter.com/4flushnews


rikkis, sfcompany - 07/03/2013
deal creating. Unsurprisingly you are an proficient as it pertains to this excellent creation. This is extremely essentially simple the whole I truly have seen your internet-site the point that this diet plan the program becomes successful to create my eyes click here on occasion. Karen Millen Sale

Karen Millen Sale, Karen Millen Dresses Sale - 14/03/2013
your so foolish eii foolish child

omwokwokpokowokkoko, hellicopters r us - 19/03/2013
His talent, especially in cold humor has also become a very important part of this program monster beats hd



josses, sale - 03/04/2013
impressive stuff
mugshots california

steve, steve - 06/04/2013
Our experienced and world recognized dissertation editors are available 24/7 to serve you and to compete with any other dissertation writing team in the world.
dissertation writing service

ahmed, aa - 21/04/2013
In spite of this change in attitude, the Olympic Flame will still be carbon-neutral, although EDF, the primary energy provider to the games, says this is a symbolic gesture. Free Hosting

ahmed, aa - 30/04/2013
It would be a travesty if we couldn't meet our 2012 goals New York escorts

ahmed, aaa - 02/05/2013
Such criticisms have spurred demand for certified offsets, which demonstrate that real emissions reductions have taken place. One of the most widely recognised certification is the Gold Standard.
online poker

ahmed, a - 04/05/2013
The long-anticipated Earth Summit also takes place in 2012. Startup business ideas

ahmed, sju - 04/05/2013
If the Olympics uses less than the agreed amount of energy, EDF will keep half the savings. earth works

ahmed, aa - 06/05/2013
The human body to change the social insanity dvd premier customs of the process will attack a lot of "waste", but also from the trx force kit tactical new unclean air inhalation of toxic and hazardous gases and particles. Although the human body has a must eradicate their insanity toxins talent, but when the body insanity dvd sale of waste saving too much or body detoxification sewage function weaken, insanity dvd beachbody waste can not be discharged,trx cheap it will affect health. Beneficial way out insanity Health Commissioner people think about the following insanity cheap est eight kinds of vegetables to eat more favorable to trx suspension trainer sale clean the toxins. Selection of fast food, to control calorie intake, try not to harm the high-calorie fast trx pro pack 2 sale food; perhaps focus on food choices when http://windows-8-key.webs.com/ ordering. Big Mac package, for example, a Big Mac windows 8 key buy calories 570 cards, 220 cards fries, Coke 150 calories down to eat a meal, heat nearly 940 cards; (220 cards) windows 8 key plus an apple pie or a glass of chocolate milk celecoxib (380 cards), it is beyond the heat standard. insanity extreme So, the best is a single point, trx discount the choice of a Big Mac windows 8 key cheap with drinking low-calorie trx beverages or with salad, compensate insanity 2013 for the lack of nutrients.


windows 8 key, http://veryge.com/insanity.aspx - 08/05/2013
?I was very pleased to find this web-site.I wanted to thanks for your time for this wonderful read!! I definitely enjoying every little bit of it and I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you blog post.| madeira plastica | plastic lumber | Ssangyong | Hyundai BH20S


Alene, Elly - 08/05/2013
Also hope that the company's strict quality and good after-sales service, brand image;-class enterprise * culture, please do not talk about the great truths, word-of-mouth advertising is priceless, money, effort, wasted little time.wholesale Polo Shirts



josskitty, sale - 09/05/2013
I am fabiulous, bitch!!!!

Sean Manyonda, Sean Manyonda Ltd - 09/05/2013
I am fabiulous, bitch!!!!

Sean Manyonda, Sean Manyonda Ltd - 09/05/2013
i just want to say that i am really worried about saying this but i think i am gay i have had feelings for guys ever since i saw my own penis and i just want to tell everyone that i am gay sorry if i upset all the women after me ahahha jokes

Dawid Hochman, dawid likes kids LTD - 09/05/2013
i just want to say that i am really worried about saying this but i think i am gay i have had feelings for guys ever since i saw my own penis and i just want to tell everyone that i am gay sorry if i upset all the women after me ahahha jokes

Dawid Hochman, dawid likes kids LTD - 09/05/2013
The credit crisis means it has been more difficult to get the same level of sponsorship than would have been available previously, so paying a premium for green energy versus cheaper fossil fuels is not going to be an easy choice." social work degree online

ahmed, wasim - 10/05/2013
I look forward in reading more of your work.. Hillview Peak

ahmed, aa - 10/05/2013
London pledged to stage the greenest games in history. Back in 2005, that pledge loosely translated into making the games carbon neutral. www.mysnoringsolutionchinstrap.org

ahmed, wasim - 13/05/2013
Over the past few years, however, offsetting has attracted a growing number of critics who say that pay-to-pollute schemes have little real impact on emissions levels and fail to discourage rich nations from cleaning up their acts. queens physical therapy

ahmed, co - 16/05/2013
According to a recent estimate, the games australian essay writers will produce 3.4m tonnes of CO2. This compares with total annual UK emissions of around 550m tonnes.

ahmed, a - 17/05/2013
In spite of this change in attitude, the buy an essay Olympic Flame will still be carbon-neutral, although EDF, the primary energy provider to the games, says this is a symbolic gesture.

ahmed, wasim - 18/05/2013




Related News



• London 2012 and Sustainability: Who's checking?
• London 2012 silver medal for carbon management
• London 2012s green build on track
• London goes for gold at the low-carbon Olympics