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This report contains findings of the assessment to review the impact of environmental measures that were implemented by Beijing for the Olympic Games. When Beijing was awarded the Games in 2001, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) evaluation team notes that Beijing faced a number of environmental pressures and issues, particularly air pollution. However, Beijing had an ambitious set of plans designed, which were comprehensive enough to greatly improve its overall environmental condition.

The authors note that during the preparatory period leading up to the Games, measures were directed first at reducing the rate of growth of energy consumption and secondly at increasing energy efficiency. This laid the groundwork for a greener future for Beijing after the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Beijing’s energy infrastructure has undergone massive restructuring, with a gradual transition from heavy dependence on coal to cleaner energy sources. The authors assert that although not all measures were specific to the Olympics, they contributed to creating a greener backdrop for the 2008 Olympic Games.

The authors make recommendations to the Beijing Municipal Government, International Olympic committee and China. Recommendations to the Beijing Municipal Government include:

• continue to build on water management achievements during the Games by ensuring that innovative water-efficiency measures employed in Games venues are increasingly applied throughout the city
• continue and enhance efforts to improve tap water quality by replacing old, substandard water distribution system pipes
• continue to implement successful environmental policies and apply the innovative technologies used for the Games more broadly across the city.

Recommendations to the International Olympic Committee include:

• strongly promote the adoption of water management strategies that are sustainable in the long-term and will benefit host cities well beyond the staging of the Games
• encourage future Olympic host cities to invest in new, innovative approaches in energy efficient design and technologies, such as micro renewable energy generation among other
• conduct formal research to measure public awareness and attitudes towards sustainability initiatives for the Games
• formalise the way in which Worldwide Olympic Partners integrate environmental considerations into their operations and provision of services for the Games

Recommendations to China include:

• encourage cities across the country to follow Beijing’s lead and reshape energy structures and to introduce successful energy saving technologies such as those used for the Games
• ensure that water treatment, re-use and rain collection technologies used at the Games should be applied widely to other Chinese cities, especially in drought affected areas.

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