Paris 2024 has fulfilled its ambitious strategy of reducing the impact of organising the Olympic and Paralympic Games by 50%, making it the greenest Games ever.
A report published at the end of 2024 revealed that Paris 2024 reduced the carbon footprint of the Games by 54.6% compared with the average for London 2012 and Rio 2016.
The average carbon footprint of London 2012 and Rio 2016 was 3.5 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent, Paris 2024’s was calculated to be 1.59 million tonnes. Figures from Tokyo 2020 are not included as the Games were held without spectators.
In order to reach their targets, Paris 2024 implemented measures across three main areas: construction, operations and travel.
Key measures
- Using mostly existing or temporary infrastructure rather than building new venues. Only the Aquatics Centre, the Athletes’ Village and the Media Village were purpose built for the Games and they were constructed using wood framing, low-carbon concrete and recycled materials. In the Athletes Village this helped to reduce emissions by 30% per square metre.
- Leaving purpose built venues as legacies to the region – the Aquatics Centre will be opened to the public this year while the Athletes’ Village and Media Village are being converted into residential districts.
- Using an electricity grid for over 98% of Paris 2024’s energy needs reduced the requirement for diesel generators. The electricity used was either solar or wind and was produced in France.
- Increasing the proportion of plant-based food available. Around 40% of the meals consumed by the public were vegetarian. The installation of free water fountains helped Paris 2024 reduce the use of single-use plastic by around 70% compared to previous Games.
- Renting more than 75% of the equipment required. All were either reconditioned or reused after the Games.
- Developing software and apps using eco-design best practices like reducing the weight of images and using static rather than animated content.
- Encouraging those delegations who were able to travel by less carbon-intensive modes of transport to do so. Athletes from Great Britain, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands and Switzerland all travelled to Paris by train.
- Ensuring all competition venues had strong public transport links and those located in Paris were accessible by bicycle. Public transport or active modes of transport such as bicycle, scooter and walking were used by 87% of spectators to get to events.
- Transporting accredited personnel with vehicles that were electric, hybrid or hydrogen-powered from renewable sources.
Achieving an ambition
“For almost 10 years, Paris 2024 has been pursuing this ambition, and we have achieved it: to offer Games for a new era, that are more responsible and just as spectacular,” said Tony Estanguet, president of the Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024.
“Everywhere, we have sought to do with less, to do better and to leave a useful legacy to reduce the impact of the world’s biggest event on the environment and the climate.
“With the commitment of the entire Games ecosystem, the IOC and IPC, public and private partners, our suppliers, spectators and athletes, 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.”
Main image (c) British Equestrian/Jon Stroud.
