Sochi 2014 promoting sustainable development in Russia
2014 Olympic Winter Games has seen BREEAM construction certification used at venues and restoration of ecosystems will be conducted with UNEP
v3_400_300_80.JPG)
The Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games is acting as a catalyst for the promotion of sustainability in Russia and the country’s first national standard for environmental construction has been passed into law.
The International Olympic Committee encourages Organising Committees of the Olympic Games (OCOGs) to assess sustainable development as part of their preparations for the Games and a wide range of environmental programmes, initiatives and standards have now been promoted across Russia due to Sochi 2014.
The construction of facilities across the country will now be conducted in accordance with environmental requirements, with energy efficiency of buildings a high priority.
The international sustainability assessment standard for buildings, BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method), has also been incorporated into the construction of Olympic venues in Sochi, ensuring the use of innovative technology for the collection, recycling and reuse of waste, with construction also utilising environmentally friendly materials.
The Sochi 2014 Organising Committee has also worked closely with key organisations including the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), to ensure the restoration of the unique ecosystem of the Olympic construction area following the Games, including the Mzymta river basin.
Danila Ovcharov, Sochi 2014 head of sustainability and the environment aid: "Any construction site incurs certain damage to the environment, however the impact to the environment is compensated for and now this process is carefully managed and being monitored. The UN Environment Programme is also participating in this and there is a plan for the re-cultivation of the Mzymta valley up to 2030."
The restoration of these unique ecosystems and the creation of green construction standards in Russia, will be a key legacy of the Games.according to Sochi 2014 President and CEO Dmitry Chernyshenko.
Mr Chernyshenko said: “International expertise in ecology is a unique asset to the Sochi 2014 Games legacy, in Russia, where the ‘green standards’ practice has recently been introduced, the analysis and evolving of this into a reality of the leading international experience in restoring the complicated ecosystems is incredibly important. The recommendations of these independent ecologists are extremely important for the creation of a unique ecological legacy of the Sochi 2014 Games, which will continue to be maintained long after the Games are complete.”
_400_250_s_c1.png)
