The Paris 2024 Olympics are set to be a milestone event, with the organizing committee promising to deliver the greenest Games in history. Aiming to slash the carbon footprint by half compared to London 2012 and Rio 2016, Paris 2024’s sustainability initiatives are groundbreaking and multifaceted.
Carbon Footprint Targets and Sustainability Efforts
The 2024 Games will take place in the same city where world leaders gathered in 2015 to commit to preventing global temperatures from rising by more than 1.5°C. The emphasis on sustainability is apparent in every aspect of the Games, from the construction of new venues to the food served to athletes and spectators.
Paris 2024 organizers have set ambitious goals, including utilizing existing venues wherever possible. Only two of the 35 stadiums used will be newly built: an aquatics center and an arena for badminton and rhythmic gymnastics. These new structures will employ low-carbon construction methods, featuring seats made from recycled local plastic waste and extensive use of wood.
IOC President on Climate Change
In an exclusive interview with BBC Sport, IOC President Thomas Bach highlighted the importance of addressing climate change. “Climate change represents an extremely serious threat, not only for sport, but for all our lives,” Bach said. “This is why, with our Olympic agenda reforms, we undertook to tackle these issues by focusing on reducing our footprint.”
Innovative and Sustainable Athlete Accommodations
The athlete accommodations at Paris 2024 continue the tradition of innovative and sustainable design seen at the Tokyo 2020 Games. The recycled cardboard beds, which gained fame for their durability and eco-friendliness, will return. The athletes’ village will also feature coffee tables made from recycled shuttlecocks, poufs crafted from parachute canvas, and chairs from recycled bottle tops.
Plant-Based Menus and Local Sourcing
Food sustainability is a key focus, with organizers committing to double the proportion of plant-based ingredients compared to previous Games. Moreover, 80% of the ingredients will be sourced from local agriculture to minimize transportation emissions. In a nod to the growing trend of plant-based diets, the Place de la Concorde, which will host urban sports, will exclusively serve vegetarian food.
Transitioning to Renewable Energy
One of the significant changes for Paris 2024 is the shift from diesel generators to public electricity networks for powering stadiums. This change addresses past criticisms, such as those from the Commission for a Sustainable London 2012, which highlighted the unnecessary deployment of diesel generators. Georgina Grenon, environmental excellence director for Paris 2024, pointed out that London 2012 burned four million liters of diesel just for electricity.
Turning Paris into a Cycling City
Transport is another critical area of focus. A 60km cycling network will link all Olympic venues, with 30km of new routes constructed ahead of the Games. This initiative aligns with recent proposals to limit car use in Paris, further promoting sustainable transportation.
Challenges and Criticisms
Despite these efforts, the Games face significant challenges. A University of Portsmouth report, “Rings of Fire,” warns of the impact of extreme heat on athletes, noting that average July and August temperatures in Paris have increased significantly over the past century. Originally, the Olympic village was designed to be free of air conditioning, but 2,500 temporary cooling units will now be installed to address heat concerns.
Water pollution in the River Seine posed a threat to holding triathlon and open water swimming events. However, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo and other officials recently swam in the river to demonstrate its safety following improvements in water quality.
Balancing Carbon Reduction with Global Impact
The largest challenge, however, remains spectator travel, which can account for up to 80% of a sporting event’s emissions. Unlike London 2012, which aimed to sell 75% of tickets to UK fans, Paris 2024 is selling tickets centrally to fans worldwide, potentially increasing international travel.
Bach acknowledged this dilemma, stating, “The Games must balance considerations about carbon reduction against what great impact the Games have with regard to peace, with regard to health, with regard to bringing the entire world together.”
Sponsors Under Scrutiny
The role of sponsors in sustainability has also come under scrutiny. Coca-Cola, a long-standing Olympic partner, was named the world’s leading plastic polluter in a recent survey by the NGO Break Free From Plastic. Although Coca-Cola plans to use beverage fountains to reduce plastic use by 50%, and Toyota will provide 500 hydrogen-fuel cell vehicles for the Games, critics argue more can be done. Over 100 athletes have signed an open letter urging Coca-Cola and Pepsi to stop using single-use plastic bottles.
As the world looks towards Paris 2024, the Games represent a crucial test of how major sporting events can adapt to the demands of sustainability. With initiatives spanning construction, food, transportation, and energy, Paris aims to set a new standard for eco-friendly global events. The success of these efforts will not only impact the future of the Olympics but also contribute to the broader fight against climate change.
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