Paris 2024 host reveals sustainability strategy outcome
Key goals were met
The Paris 2024 Organising Committee has revealed the success of its sustainability strategy, demonstrating a transformative approach to hosting the world’s largest sporting event while minimising its environmental impact.
From the outset of its bid to host the Games, Paris 2024 set out with the ambitious goal of delivering a more sustainable and environmentally responsible event aligned with global climate challenges. The Games have significantly reduced carbon emissions and fostered a circular economy, setting a new benchmark for future major international sports events.
A vision for sustainability
The Paris 2024 Games were designed with an innovative sustainability plan developed by the Organising Committee in collaboration with public and private sector partners. This strategy was underpinned by a belief that large-scale sporting events must proactively address climate change rather than contribute to it.
The organisers committed to reducing the Games’ carbon footprint by 50% compared with the average emissions of previous Games in London (2012) and Rio (2016). In practice, this meant slashing emissions from 3.5 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent (teqCO2) to a calculated 1.59 million teqCO2, a remarkable reduction of 54.6%.
The shift from reactive to proactive environmental measures was crucial to achieving this goal. Paris 2024’s approach focused on setting apparent carbon reduction targets long before the Games began, a strategy that set it apart from previous editions, which often concentrate on carbon offsetting after the event. This foresight helped Paris 2024 implement innovative actions across the event’s entire lifecycle, from construction and operations to travel and waste management.
Reducing carbon emissions
Achieving the targeted reduction in emissions required a comprehensive approach across various event sectors. The organisers focused their efforts on building the Games infrastructure. Rather than building a vast array of new venues, Paris 2024 prioritised using existing and temporary infrastructure.
This limited the need for new construction and minimised the event’s long-term carbon impact. The Olympic Aquatics Centre, the Athletes’ Village, and the Media Village were among the few permanent structures built. They were all designed with low-carbon materials such as wood framing, recycled materials, and low-carbon concrete.
To further reduce emissions from the construction process, the organisers adopted eco-friendly techniques, including using low-carbon building materials and sustainable construction practices. For example, in the Athletes’ Village, emissions were reduced by 30% per square metre of construction, and the entire life cycle of the buildings was projected to produce 47% fewer emissions compared with conventional construction practices.
The commitment to reducing environmental impact extended beyond permanent venues to temporary structures. Over 200,000 spectator seats were rented and installed for the Games, only to be dismantled after the event.
Eco-design principles were applied to every piece of infrastructure, with 40% of the spectator seating made from wood, reducing the carbon footprint. As initially predicted, these efforts helped keep the construction sector’s contribution to the Games’ overall carbon footprint to 29%.
Sustainable operations
The operational phase of the Games also saw significant reductions in carbon emissions. Initially expected to account for one-third of the total emissions, operations contributed just 18% of the total carbon footprint. This was achieved through various measures such as energy, catering, and digital technology.
A significant shift occurred in energy use, with Paris 2024 moving away from the typical reliance on diesel generators for temporary power supply. Instead, the temporary and existing venues were connected to the national electricity grid, fully supplied by renewable energy sources. Solar and wind energy from certified renewable sources met 98.4% of the Games’ energy needs. This model reduced emissions during the event and provided a legacy for future events, with the installation of new electricity terminals that could be repurposed for future gatherings.
Catering at the Games was another area targeted for carbon reduction. Working with key partners like Carrefour, Sodexo Live!, Danone, and Garden Gourmet, the organisers increased the proportion of plant-based food options available to spectators and staff.
By focusing on sustainable food choices, the Games reached a significant milestone: 40% of the meals served to the public were vegetarian, double the amount typically seen at such events. Additionally, Paris 2024 aimed to ensure that the carbon footprint of each meal served to Games staff was no more than 1kg of teqCO2.
Significant emissions cuts also affected the digital sector, reducing the volume and size of digital equipment used for the event. Notably, there were 29% fewer televisions and 28% fewer printers than initially anticipated.
By opting to rent over 75% of its digital equipment and ensuring that all purchased equipment was either reused or reconditioned, Paris 2024 dramatically reduced its environmental impact. Software and apps were also designed with eco-design principles, prioritising lighter images and static content to reduce data usage.
Tackling travel emissions
Travel was among the most significant contributors to the Games’ carbon footprint. Initially projected to account for one-third of the total emissions, travel represented 53% of the Games’ total footprint.
Most emissions came from spectators’ travel, particularly those arriving on long-haul flights. With a record 12.1 million tickets sold, Paris 2024 saw more spectators attending the Games than initially anticipated, with 2.8 million unique spectators.
Despite the heavy carbon impact of travel, Paris 2024 worked with international delegations and spectators to encourage more sustainable modes of transport. For example, athletes from neighbouring countries such as Germany, Belgium, and the United Kingdom were encouraged to travel by train, significantly lowering their travel emissions.
Furthermore, 87% of spectators used public transport or active modes like walking or cycling to reach the venues, aided by the extensive public transport network and 415 km of cycling lanes made available for the Games.
The organisers also introduced a new fleet of electric, hybrid, or hydrogen-powered vehicles to transport accredited individuals, reducing the number of cars by 37% compared with previous Games. These initiatives mitigated the impact of spectator travel, although it remained the most significant contributor to the Games’ carbon footprint.
Carbon offsetting and capture projects
Paris 2024 implemented a series of carbon offset and capture projects to address the remaining emissions that could not be avoided. These initiatives aimed to neutralise the Games’ carbon footprint by supporting international and local projects. Paris 2024 contributed €11.5 million to nine major climate projects in equatorial regions, including providing clean cooking systems in Nigeria, developing solar power plants in Senegal, and reforestation projects in Guatemala and Kenya. In France, €600,000 was invested in forestry projects that aimed to sequester 14,500 teqCO2.
A legacy of sustainability
Paris 2024’s commitment to sustainability extended beyond the immediate environmental impact of the Games. The organisers aimed to leave a lasting legacy by inspiring future events to adopt more sustainable practices.
Through developing tools such as the “Coach Climat Événements” (Events Climate Coach), Paris 2024 provided organisers with concrete actions to reduce their events’ environmental impact. By October 2024, over 1,350 events had committed to using this tool, and more than 160 action plans had been developed, resulting in an average 21% reduction in emissions per event.
Through this collaborative approach, Paris 2024 has not only reduced the environmental impact of its Games but has also laid the foundation for a more sustainable future for global sporting events.
In the words of Tony Estanguet, President of the Paris 2024 Organising Committee, “We have worked to find solutions to deliver more responsible Games at every level. From now on, we have only one wish: that the momentum of the more responsible Games of Paris 2024 continues and that event organisers draw inspiration from our experience to do even better.”
Hero image: Paris 2024 has laid the foundation for a more sustainable future for global sporting events. Credit: Paris 2024
Last Updated on 5 days by Dan Ngiam
