The Paris 2024 Olympics are quickly approaching with grand promises of being the greenest Games ever. The Olympics Legacy and Sustainability plan outlines ambitious ideas to cut carbon emissions, minimize waste and use renewable energy sources.
In the plan, Paris set goals to reduce carbon emissions by more than half compared to previous Games, from an average of 3.6 million tons to 1.5 million tons. This means Paris thinks it can produce less emissions than the Tokyo Summer Games in 2021, which banned spectator attendance. Before Tokyo, the London and Rio Olympics had 3.4 million tons and 3.6 million tons of carbon emissions, respectively.
“Live events are very good at showing people what’s possible. We have the opportunity to make an impact on the public because we’re visible. You may not know what your utility is doing, but events this big bring ideas into the spotlight,” said Neel Vasavada, advisory board member at MUSE, an organization for leaders in sustainable events.
Despite the challenges of large-scale events contributing to climate change, Paris is setting a high standard for sustainability. While only time will tell if the promises hold true, we can learn valuable lessons from the Olympics to add more sustainable habits to our daily lives.
Try not to fly
The Olympics encourages athletes, spectators and others attending to travel by train rather than flying to Paris, as trains emit significantly less carbon than planes. At the games, each competition venue is accessible by public transportation, making it easy to choose this option over high-emission vehicles.
“One big component is travel. No one really knows what fan travel is like,” Vasavada said.
Determining the exact emissions related to travel for 10,500 athletes, 45,000 volunteers, 20,000 journalists and millions of spectators likely involves a lot of estimations. In reality, people love comfort and familiarity. Many attendees may still choose to use personal cars or take a flight.
How you can do it
Consider replacing your transportation with less energy-intensive options. Try biking or walking instead of driving whenever possible. If you’re going a longer distance, try public transportation, like a bus or train, instead of driving or flying. If you need to drive, try carpooling or using an electric vehicle to reduce your carbon footprint.
Paris anticipates more than 11 million visitors for the Olympic Games. France is encouraging attendees to use public transportation, including the Metro, as much as possible in order to reduce carbon emissions.
Use clean energy
All Olympic venues in Paris are powered by 100% renewable energy sourced from wind and solar farms in France. During the Games, Paris is setting up temporary installations to cover a portion of athlete’s consumption, including a floating solar farm on the Seine River. In addition, the Games will use the public electricity network powered mostly by nuclear energy, a zero-emission power source, instead of diesel generators.
How you can do it
If you have a generator powered by diesel or another fossil fuel like natural gas, consider replacing it with battery energy storage. The upfront cost may be intimidating, but you can save 50% compared to the cost of fuel over time, according to Vasavada.
Installing solar panels is another way to save money on energy bills and reduce your home’s carbon emissions. If solar panel installation is not a great fit for your budget, you can still support renewable energy in other ways, like subscribing to a community solar program. Or, if you live in a deregulated energy market, choose a 100% green energy plan. Either way, you contribute to sustainable efforts in your state.
“In a world where people don’t want to try sustainability because it’s expensive, they are actually leaving money on the table. It can help save money while benefiting your health and climate change,” Vasavada said.
Eat more sustainably
Serving 13 million meals is not a small feat. The 2024 Paris Olympics pledged to cut the carbon emissions of the average meal in half. To do so, they doubled the portions of plant-based ingredients, sourced local ingredients and cut food waste through improved estimating and composting. Another step is limiting single-use plastics by implementing other solutions, like using reusable bottles for water and other beverages.
How you can do it
While you may not be feeding 10,500 athletes every day, choosing locally grown produce and foods is good for the environment. Shopping locally reduces emissions and saves energy from food transportation and manufacturing. When eating out or at home, opt for reusable containers and utensils to reduce waste and conserve energy used to make disposable items.
Reuse, rent, recycle
Paris 2024 is saving energy through sustainable venue choices, reduced equipment needs and use of rented equipment, all contributing to lower energy consumption across the Games. Focused on a long-term use strategy, 95% of the competition venues already existed or were built using low-emission construction practices. Any newly constructed buildings have a purpose and plan for use after the Olympics. Inside the buildings, they reduced the amount of furniture and equipment by 200,000, encouraging shared use.
Over 75% of the equipment for the Games will be rented, including stands, tents, chairs and computers. Following the Olympics, 90% of assets will be reused, and organizers are creating a second-life plan for any remaining materials.
How you can do it
Instead of buying new, consider rented or recycled options first. Whether it’s clothes, tools or equipment, choosing rented items reduces energy consumption and minimizes environmental impact compared to purchasing new ones.
The big idea
The Paris Olympics is a reminder that while individual actions are important, fighting climate change is a collective effort. You can do your part, but it is up to large and influential corporations and systems to make a difference in the world.
“We need to change culture as much as anything. A lot of effort is spent on debunking why this can’t be done, but Paris has the opportunity to show that the Olympics can be more efficient and repeated for years to come. Opportunities start when we reduce fossil fuels,” Vasavada said.
Can Paris truly deliver on these lofty goals or are these claims another case of greenwashing? While the sustainability plans show promise, the results are what matter.