Greening" of 2008 Beijing Olympic Games impressive says UN Environment Programme Report

Citation

(2008), "Greening" of 2008 Beijing Olympic Games impressive says UN Environment Programme Report", Management of Environmental Quality, Vol. 19 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/meq.2008.08319cab.002

"Greening" of 2008 Beijing Olympic Games impressive says UN Environment Programme Report

Article Type: News From: Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal, Volume 19, Issue 3.

Significant strides are being made to “green” the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, a report issued by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) says. The hosting of the Games is also proving to be a catalyst for accelerating environmental improvements across the city as Beijing strives to balance rapid, often double-digit economic growth with health and environmental protection.

The report says environmental measures are being introduced covering waste management, cleaner transport systems and water treatment, as well as new urban green belts including a 580-hectare Olympic Forest Park. The Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games (BOCOG) should also be commended for accelerating the phase-out of ozone depleting chemicals and for the provision of energy efficiency and green energy appliances at buildings and sports venues. But while the report acknowledges the significant investment and achievements of the organizers of the 2008 Olympic Games, it also highlights some remaining concerns and missed opportunities that there may still be time to rectify. Some of these are specific to the Games themselves, while others are linked to challenges facing the city of Beijing generally as it attempts to reduce pollution and steer its development onto a more sustainable path.