The Olympic Games have always been a grand celebration of sports, culture, and unity. As the world looks forward to the 2024 Paris Olympics, there's an exciting twist: Paris is on a mission to host the most sustainable Olympics ever by halving the carbon footprint compared to previous events. Let's take a closer look at how the City of Light is turning green for this epic event.

Carbon neutrality: A cool commitment

Paris 2024 promises to be as cool as it gets by going as low carbon as possible. How? By pulling out all the stops to minimise carbon emissions and offsetting the unavoidable ones. Here's the game plan:

Renewable energy:

Think solar and wind power lighting up the venues with a commitment to using 100% renewable energy. In addition, all venues are connected to the electricity grid, meaning there’s no need for them to use diesel generators (these are what are normally used at these types of sporting events). These changes are expected to reduce Paris 2024’s energy-related carbon emissions by 80%!  

Catering:

Unsurprisingly, athletes need a lot of fuel meaning catering can quickly increase any sporting event's carbon emissions significantly. Of the estimated 13 million meals served, Paris has decided to double the plant-based offerings, increase local and seasonal food sourcing, and halve the amount of single-use plastic used.  

Sustainable transportation:

Forget gas-guzzlers! Around 1/3 of the estimated carbon emissions will come from transport, with the largest contributors being spectator and athlete travel. Paris has made the call out for visitors and athletes to help mitigate this with countries such as Switzerland and Great Britain already promising to send their athletes via the lowest carbon route which is trains! As for the spectators, it's all about public transport, bikes, and electric vehicles zipping around the city with over 1,000km of cycle lanes being built.

Building smart, not big

To keep the Games as green as possible, Paris is all about smart renovations and minimal new construction. Over 95% of the infrastructure at Paris 2024 will be either temporary or pre-existing. By using existing venues like the iconic Stade de France and setting up temporary structures, the city is cutting down on its environmental footprint.

• ‍Recycling and reuse: Temporary structures? Yep, they're designed to be taken apart and reused elsewhere. But Paris hasn’t stopped there, of the 2,800 new Olympic apartments being built, all of them will be converted into homes after the games (not only benefiting the environment but also the community!).  ‍
• Eco-friendly materials: New buildings will use sustainable materials. In fact, these low-carbon techniques of using things like wood and recycled materials will reduce emissions per square meter in the Athlete’s Village by 30% and cut the buildings overall carbon footprint by 47%!

Turning the city green

Paris 2024 is set to be a breath of fresh air, literally. The organisers are focusing on urban biodiversity and green spaces:

• ‍Urban reforestation: Thousands of new trees (almost 9,000 to be precise!) will be planted around the city, creating lush, green areas. ‍
• Green roofing: Venues with green roofs and walls? Yes, please! These features will help insulate buildings and support local wildlife, like providing homes for insects and birds. It doesn’t hurt that they’ll look pretty too.  

Tackling waste

Paris 2024 has a solid plan to tackle waste:

• ‍Zero waste to landfill: The goal is 100% waste diversion through recycling, composting, and waste-to-energy processes. ‍
• Plastic-free games: Bye-bye, single-use plastics! Paris will be the first major event without single-use plastics (if Paris can do it, so can you!).  ‍
• Equipment: It’s no secret that the Games require a lot of specialist equipment. But not to worry, 90% of the 6 million pieces of equipment will be reused and given a second life.  

Leaving a lasting legacy

The 2024 Paris Olympics are not just about breaking records; they're about setting new standards for sustainability. With a determined spirit, Paris is turning this global event into a beacon of green practices and environmental responsibility.  

Paris 2024 is gearing up to be the greenest Olympics yet. Here's to a future where all large-scale events follow in these eco-friendly footsteps!

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