5 August 2008: China has made an effort to improve the
sustainability of the Olympic Games and improve the air quality in Beijing,
according to a UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Publication published in late
2007, ‘Beijing 2008 Olympic Games: An environmental review.’

Among the efforts made to improve the sustainability of the
games, 20% of the energy required for the games comes from wind, solar power
features prominently in the Olympic Village, and China has expanded public
transportation in Beijing. Speaking on China’s efforts to ‘green’ the Olympics,
Achim Steiner, UNEP Executive Director, said “the legacy of this Olympic Games
will be in part that it has left in place an infrastructure for public
transport and cleaner vehicles that will benefit not only the Olympic Games but
also the population of Beijing and hopefully in due course other parts of
China.” After the Games, UNEP will publish a Post-Games Environmental Report. [UNEP
Press Release] [UNEP
Olympics website]