Paris 2024 aims to halve its carbon footprint compared to London 2012 and Rio 2016. With less than a month to go, they are unveiling new advancements in reducing Games-related emissions and supporting carbon avoidance and capture projects.
Believing major sports events must take responsibility in addressing climate change, Paris 2024 has adopted a new approach to minimise the Games' climate impact, shifting from post-event carbon offsetting to pre-Games carbon reduction targets and strategies.
To halve the carbon footprint of the Games, Paris 2024 is considering all direct and indirect emissions (scopes 1, 2, and 3), including spectator travel. The average carbon footprint of recent Games, excluding the spectator-free Tokyo 2020, is 3.5 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent (teqCO2).
Managing and reducing carbon emissions leading up to the Games, Paris 2024 has enlisted climate experts within its Ecological Transformation Committee and partnered with Bilan Carbon-trained specialists. They have developed a method and tool incorporating nearly 10,000 data points.
The tool estimates the carbon footprint of Paris 2024 at 1.58 million teqCO2, below the target of 1.75 million teqCO2. With less than a month to go, all efforts to avoid, reduce, and control emissions are helping Paris 2024 stay on track to meet its ambitious goal.
The full results, including actual event data, will be published in autumn 2024. However, an initial carbon assessment for 2018-2023, conducted according to the GHG Protocol and IOC’s methodology, reveals that Games preparations generated 476,000 teqCO2. Three-quarters of these emissions came from permanent infrastructure projects overseen by Solideo, with the remainder from Paris 2024 operations.
Considering these emissions, the estimated carbon footprint of the Games has been updated. The revised calculations confirm that the 2019 target to reduce the Games' carbon footprint is on track, with emissions from construction and operations, which constitute two-thirds of the total, being successfully managed.
Paris 2024 is on track to meet its carbon reduction goals through various measures across all aspects of the Games organisation:
Construction: To minimise emissions, 95% of the infrastructure for Paris 2024 is temporary or pre-existing. Solideo's low-carbon techniques (using wood, low-carbon concrete, and recycled materials) have reduced emissions per square meter in the Athletes’ Village by 30% and cut the buildings' overall carbon impact by 47% compared to conventional construction.
Energy: All venues are connected to the electricity grid, minimising the use of diesel generators. EDF will provide renewable energy, cutting the Games' energy-related emissions by 80% compared to traditional models.
Catering: Efforts to reduce the carbon impact of the 13 million meals served include doubling plant-based options, halving single-use plastics compared to London 2012, increasing local and seasonal sourcing, and combating food waste.
Transport: All competition venues are accessible by public transport, with 415 km of cycle paths and secure bike parking. Paris 2024, in partnership with Toyota, will provide a fleet of electric, hydrogen, and hybrid vehicles, reducing the number of vehicles by a third through optimisation and pooling.
Equipment: 90% of the 6 million pieces of equipment used will be repurposed post-Games, promoting a circular economy.
IT: 70% of IT equipment will be leased and reused after the Games, with eco-designed consumer applications being implemented.
These initiatives collectively ensure Paris 2024 remains on course to achieve its ambitious carbon reduction targets. One-third of the estimated carbon emissions for the Games come from athlete and spectator travel. This includes journeys by ticket and accreditation holders. The exact impact will be clear only after ticket sales are complete and travel data is collected post-Games.
Paris 2024 is urging all visitors, officials, partners, athletes, media, spectators, and volunteers, to use low-carbon transport to and within France. This strategy is already effective, with athletes from Germany, Belgium, Great Britain, the Netherlands, and Switzerland planning to travel by train.