In June 2003, UNEP signed a protocol with the Organising Committee for the XX Olympic Winter Games (TOROC) for the joint development of sustainability programmes regarding the staging of the Olympic Games.

In particular, educational and sensibilisation campaigns on the main environmental concerns are planned, in addition to specific projects marked by the application of environmental sustainability and Cleaner Production concepts (based on environmental impact prevention strategies).

The “ International Declaration on Cleaner Production ” was also signed as part of the protocol, and TOROC has drafted a document in which it defines the commitments that it will assume for its application:

• influence and encourage commercial partners, the general public and all parties interested in adopting sustainable prevention and consumption practices;

• create specific professional skills in the organisation;

• actively promote the adoption of prevention strategies at all levels of the organisation;

• find innovative solutions and share experience.

To define the policies and the projects undertaken in the environmental and social sphere, TOROC has developed the "Sustainability Report" project: an annual rendering of accounts, destined to those involved at different levels in the Olympic events, of the undertakings that render concrete the engagements adopted with the adoption of the Charter of intents.

The 2004/05 Sustainability Report jointly concerns the ethical-social, environmental and economical dimensions of our activities, taking into consideration the three fundamental reading keys of the sustainability concept.

TOROC develops environmental projects and initiatives that respond to commitments made during the candidacy phase, to the principles of Agenda XXI of the Olympic Movement and to the results of the Strategic Environmental Assessment procedure. One of the cornerstones is the HECTOR ( HEritage Climate TORino ) project designed to make the winter games carbon neutral.

The organisers calculate that the 2006 Winter Olympics (10-26 February) will generate the equivalent of just over 100,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide with the main sources of emissions coming from transport and the operation of the Olympic venues.

The sister Paralympic Games will generate the equivalent of 15,000 tonnes of the greenhouse gas making the total emissions from both events just over 120,000 tonnes.

Under HECTOR these emissions will be offset via forestry, energy efficiency and renewable energy schemes both at home and abroad in line with the international climate change treaty, the Kyoto Protocol.