Optimal conditions
Paris and its region offer optimal environmental conditions to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games. In spite of its fairly small, urbanised area, the region's natural environments are varied and well distributed.
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Air quality is ensured partly by the climatic situation of the Paris region.
(© Paris City Hall)
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As no major industrial activity is conducted in Paris, the city's environmental
conditions are good as illustrated by the following criteria:
• Air quality: This is ensured partly by the climatic situation of the Paris region. Air quality
is continuously monitored by an independent organisation that is internationally
known for its reliability.
• Water quality: A catchment and treatment network along with a testing and safety system ensure
the production of drinking water of excellent quality which safeguards the city
from any health risk.
• Waste management: For some years, a considerable effort has been made to modernise the waste treatment
system by introducing selective sorting and recycling.
• Noise: Noise pollution is monitored by means of precise mapping so as to define actions
for noise reduction and protection, and restrictive statutory measures for building
operations |
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Urban Plan: to control energy consumption and the resulting pollution.
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The Agenda 21-type approach and the limiting of the ecological impact are now
priority objectives for public institutions. Transport policies are organised
in the context of an Urban Plan which aims to control energy consumption and the
resulting pollution while reducing traffic at the centre of the urban area.
Finally, to protect its large green spaces, the City of Paris has drawn up a
Sustainable Management Charter for the green parks of Bois de Boulogne and Bois
de Vincennes.
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The organisation of the Olympic and Paralympic Games will have extremely positive
impacts in terms of economic regeneration, heritage conservation and enhancement of
natural spaces.
In the North, the site of Plaine Saint-Denis, a former industrial site, will
be organised along a green axis which will provide the backbone for the urban
renovation project. The permanent installation of the SuperDome near Porte de
la Chapelle will be a suitable development for the revamping of this area and
the linking between Paris and its suburbs.
In the West, the building of the Dome will provide a better link between the
large natural space of Bois de Boulogne (860 hectares) and surrounding districts. |
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Noise nuisances limited and air quality improved
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Finally, the Olympic Village constitutes an exemplary operation of urban renewal.
It will be developed around a 10-hectare park on the basis of an environmentalist
approach, using innovative techniques (management of water, waste, energy, and
construction and planting techniques).
During the Games, noise nuisances will be limited everywhere and the air quality
will be improved owing to the compactness of the set-up and the utilisation of
non-polluting means of travel.
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France has a strict statutory framework which requires contractors to submit
large-scale projects to environmental assessment.
Moreover, France has signed the agreements of Rio in 1992 and Kyoto in 1997. In line with the latter, the Games provide a unique opportunity to adopt a genuine
sustainable development approach. Based on the Olympic Movement's action programme
in Agenda 21, an environmental management system will be set up. In this context,
the future OCOG will undertake to draw up education and public awareness programmes
with the aim of ensuring that this approach is shared by all. |
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