Paris Olympics aims to set records for event sustainability. Here’s how

The Olympics present a dilemma for environmentalists and sustainability pros who applaud elite athleticism but cringe at the massive greenhouse gas emissions from staging in-person sporting events. The Paris games from July 26 to Aug. 11 are breaking that cycle.

More than 11,200 athletes will compete in Paris — almost four times the number who gathered 100 years ago when the city last hosted the world’s largest multi-sport competition. They’ll be cheered in person by 326,000 spectators. The estimated footprint of this summer’s games will be half that of the London and Rio events — roughly 1.75 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions. (Tokyo is exempt from comparisons, because there were no in-person spectators.)

The first Olympics with a ‘carbon budget’

That projection is larger than the “carbon budget” the Paris sustainability team set seven years ago, as part of the master plan that won it host status. Its decision to create a forecast breaks from the norm. In the past, cities calculated emissions after the event was over and offset the impact. The Paris team set forward-looking metrics for construction, biodiversity, mass transit access, plant-based food availability and waste diversion, to name just a few. (Here’s the methodology it uses.)

“They are leveraging existing guardrails and structures to get this done,” said Garima Sharma, an assistant professor of management at American University’s Kogod School of Business, pointing to the committee’s use of ISO standards in setting operational processes. “This gives them legitimacy and helps them get efficiency to where they want it to be.” 

One of the biggest investments was the $1.5 billion it took (so far) to clean up the polluted Seine, which will host the first segment of the triathlon. “It cannot be understated what a huge project and achievement this is,” said Madeleine Orr, assistant professor of sports ecology at the University of Toronto, adding that more needs to be done upriver to keep the waterway pristine after the athletes and spectators go home. 

The estimated cost to host the Paris Olympics is $8.2 billion. France spent an additional $3.2 billion on upgrades to arenas, transit and other infrastructure. The committee doesn’t break out the cost of specific sustainability measures. Many are covered by corporate partnerships.

Here are tactics that helped the Paris organizing committee realize that vision.

Strict limits on new construction

The International Olympics Committee revised requirements for host cities in 2020. One big thing helping Paris organizers reduce emissions is a decision to use existing arenas and facilities. Building new infrastructure is typically a big environmental drag associated with hosting an Olympics — about one-third of the total.

Just one new sports venue, the Aquatics Centre, was built specifically for Paris 2024. It uses bio-sourced materials for the structure, reclaimed and recycled products for the interior. It is powered by one of the largest urban solar farms in France. 

The Olympics Village, built in the low-income suburb of Seine-Saint-Denis, will be transformed into residential apartments. An analysis suggests downplaying construction reduced carbon emissions by 47 percent compared with conventional approaches.

No diesel generators allowed

In Paris, there’s an abundance of low-carbon electricity — 78 percent from nuclear and 19 percent from renewables — and the committee prioritized ensuring all venues are connected. 

That reduces the need for diesel generators used by media for broadcast feeds. They’re typically the biggest emitter on-site during an Olympics — 4 million liters were burned for London 2012. “That is huge,” said Orr, referring to the decision to prioritize electricity. It also required 8,000 “interventions” by local utility Enedis, costing $100 million.

Energy will account for about 5 percent of the event’s emissions. That’s about 80 percent less than traditional sporting events. The famous Olympic torch is being lit with biopropane. 

Public transit options are abundant

Transportation emissions make up about one-third of the Paris games’ footprint, mainly from flights to travel to the event. 

All of the venues for Paris 2024 are located within a 10-kilometer radius, all accessible by some form of public transportation, as well as an extensive 34-mile network of cycling lanes. It takes about a half-hour to travel from the Olympics Village to any venue. 

The amount of vehicles used by the committee itself — most hybrid or electric — was reduced by one-third compared with past events.

Circularity is central to the emissions reduction plan

Paris 2024 is the largest sporting event to opt for reusable cups, replacing 13 million disposable ones. Spectators can bring refillable bottles to use at 700 water and soda stations. A high-level goal is to halve the amount of single-use plastics distributed during the event.

Within the catering operations, the goal is to halve the average carbon footprint of the 13 million meals served over the games. Part of this relates to a decision to source about 80 percent of the food, much of it plant-based, from France. Leftover food will be donated or composted to produce renewable gas. All the tableware is reusable.. 

Approximately 6 million pieces of equipment will be used during the competitions, and 90 percent of them will be given “a second life.” 

A different sort of rationale for buying carbon credits

To offset its impact, Paris 2024 purchased 1.4 million carbon credits, including 1.3 million related to forest protection in Kenya and Guatemala, cookstove distribution in Kenya, Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and renewable electricity installations in Senegal. In France, the committee is supporting reforestation initiatives.

Projects were vetted for integrity, measurable emissions reductions and biodiversity benefits, said Valerio Magiulo, CEO of Abatable, which sourced the out-of-country projects. The committee prioritized creating economic opportunities in developing nations over making neutrality claims. “The games were never going to be neutral, even with an offset of the highest quality,” he said.