The 2024 Paris Olympics are setting out to be the most environmentally friendly games yet, aligning with the Paris climate agreement. The buzz around these “green games” started back in April 2021 when the organizing committee dreamed of achieving carbon neutrality by subtracting more greenhouse gases from the atmosphere than the games would produce. However, as time went on, the bold claim of net-zero emissions seemed to quietly fade from their updates.
This leads us to wonder: can they really meet their ambitious “green games” promises? On paper, they aim to cut greenhouse gas emissions compared to the Rio 2016 and London 2012 Olympics, which each emitted about 3.5 million tonnes of CO2. It’s worth noting, though, that both those events were among the least eco-friendly historically. In response to criticism over how these emissions were calculated, the International Olympic Committee proposed a standardized framework for measuring carbon footprints in 2018.
As of now, Paris has set a cap of 1.58 million tonnes of CO2 emissions for the 2024 event, which is an ambitious goal. It’s especially challenging considering that the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, held during the pandemic and without spectators, still produced around 2 million tonnes of CO2.
Typically, the biggest carbon culprits in such massive events are participant travel and construction. Paris’s 2024 forecast divides emissions into three main chunks: 25% from transportation of participants and spectators, another 25% from construction, and the final 25% from operations like catering and security. However, we won’t know the exact numbers until the games are over, as there are still uncertainties about building materials, the estimated 13 million spectators, and the potential emissions impact from transportation hiccups like rail strikes or delayed metro lines.
There’s also the issue of building a new motorway junction, despite evidence of such infrastructure leading to increased traffic over time. The hope is that they’ll keep transparency in calculating their carbon footprint and have it independently verified post-games, following best practices in environmental reporting.
Organizers are trying to trim emissions by limiting construction, using temporary or repurposed venues, and opting for eco-friendly designs. For instance, the new aquatic center features a sustainable wooden frame and solar panels. There’s some skepticism, though, about whether these small measures will substantially impact carbon reductions, especially since major components like concrete and steel carry heavy carbon footprints.
The Olympic village is trying to be greener too, promising a reduced carbon footprint. However, questions arise around whether their benchmarks for reduction are set appropriately or not. The games aim to run on 100% renewable energy from various sources, though some skepticism remains about their true environmental benefits.
When it comes to food, the plan is to offer mostly vegetarian options, which should help cut carbon impacts. However, even local sourcing doesn’t always mean a smaller footprint—something worth remembering in broader sustainability efforts.
Carbon offsetting projects are also on the agenda, despite ongoing debate about their efficacy. The academic community has mixed views on mega-events like the Olympics. Some argue they clash with sustainability goals, while others believe they offer a unique platform for showcasing innovation and promoting sustainable development.
The expected carbon footprint from the 2024 games equates to around 100 to 125 kg CO2 per person for the anticipated 13 to 16 million visitors. In comparison, the average European contributes 7.8 tonnes yearly. If we want to keep global warming in check, it’s clear that richer nations, being major emitters, need to shoulder more of the reduction efforts.
Researchers suggest several strategies for more sustainable events, like hosting across multiple cities to minimize new constructions or employing independent bodies for sustainability assessments.
Ultimately, we need to reimagine the Olympic Games and mega-events for a future where they support international climate goals. Ideally, they could even bolster the local area’s transition to renewable energy, like the 1992 Barcelona Olympics did with urban revitalization efforts. As an aside, Dr. Anne de Bortoli’s work on sustainability metrics at Polytechnique Montréal supports these discussions, highlighting the critical role research can play in shaping greener events.