As the world's elite athletes gear up to compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics, the games' organizers have added an exciting new ambition to the iconic Olympic motto of "faster, higher, stronger" - they want to make these the “the Greenest Games Ever”.
Faced with increasing scrutiny over the environmental impact of global sporting events, the Paris 2024 team has pledged to slash the carbon footprint of the games by a staggering 50% compared to previous Olympics. Previous Summer Games emitted an average of 3.5 million tonnes of CO2w. The FIFA World Cups, similar in size and scope, in South Africa (2010) and Brazil (2014) generated close to 2.8 millions tons of CO2e each and the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio generated 4.5 million tons of CO2e. Combined, these latter 3 events alone generated emissions equivalent to burning 11 billion pounds of coal. These are truly massive, eye-watering figures that underscore the immense environmental toll of hosting an event of this scale. The strain on energy, resources, and transportation creates a carbon burden that is difficult to fathom.
The Paris organisers have now set a "greener than ever" target of not exceeding 1.5 million tonnes. It's an audacious goal, but one they're determined to achieve through a wide-ranging sustainability strategy that puts the environment front and center.
So how exactly do they plan to pull this off?
For starters, the organizers are taking a hard look at construction, aiming to mostly use existing or temporary venues rather than building brand new facilities. When new builds are required, they'll favor low-carbon materials like timber and recycled plastics. Venues will also be connected to renewable energy grids to eliminate the need for polluting diesel generators.
Transportation is another major focus area. With nearly 40% of emissions expected to come from moving athletes, officials, and spectators around, the Paris team is pulling out all the stops. Most venues will be within 10km of the Olympic village and connected by public transit, while a fleet of over 2,650 electric vehicles provided by partner Toyota will shuttle people between sites.
But it's not just infrastructure - the organizers are also rethinking the games' operational practices to be kinder to the planet. Athletes' accommodations will forgo energy-hungry air conditioning, relying instead on smart building design to keep things cool. And when it comes to food, over 60% of meals served will be vegetarian, with a major boost in plant-based options to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of catering.
Of course, no sustainability strategy is perfect, and some environmental groups have raised concerns that the Paris plan doesn't go far enough. Calls for greater transparency around carbon offsets, deeper cuts to international air travel, and even more radical reforms to the Olympic model itself reflect the scale of the climate challenge we face. Addressing this challenge will inevitably require innovative, collaborative solutions from all stakeholders involved.
But the Paris 2024 team deserves credit for putting sustainability front and center and aiming to deliver the greenest Olympic Games in history. It's an ambitious vision, to be sure, but one that could serve as a crucial blueprint for future international sporting events to follow.
As the world watches the world's greatest athletes compete in Paris next year, they'll also be witnessing a game-changing experiment in green innovation and low-carbon event management. And with the future of our planet hanging in the balance, that might just be the most important competition of all.
