London 2012 is committed to creating venues and infrastructure in a sustainable way, while also looking to what will be left after the Games.
To reduce the greenhouses gases associated with the Olympic Park and venues we are:
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.
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.
The Olympic Park site is mainly former industrial land which was badly degraded and highly polluted. However, there are still areas of important natural habitat which will be conserved where possible 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 where possible, 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.
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.
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.
While preparing the Park for the Games, aquatic experts cleared and prepared the Pudding Mill River.
The fish were taken out unharmed and relocated in the nearby River Lea.