Paris 2024 says its Olympic Games will be the greenest in the event’s history. But how sustainable is it really?

The Paris 2024 Olympics promises to be a landmark event in the history of the games. The organisers have set their sights on becoming the ‘greenest games’ ever held. An ambitious goal given that Tokyo’s games in 2021 didn’t even have spectators due to Covid-19 restrictions. 

So as 14 million visitors, 15,000 athletes and 45,000 volunteers descend on the capital, will Paris 2024 succeed in creating new benchmarks for environmental stewardship and community impact? In an era where global events leave substantial ecological footprints and our planet is forced ever closer to the brink, there is far more at stake than who wins gold. 

Let’s go behind the scenes of Paris 2024 to find out more.

Setting gold standards 

One of the main challenges with claims like ‘most sustainable’ or ‘greenest ever’ is defining what that means. In the context of the Olympic games, a complex global event where everything from plastic spoons to airmiles must be accounted for, it’s not surprising many organisers focus on the show and spectacle, rather than keeping their promises. 

Yet even during the initial candidature phase, Paris 2024 has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to delivering an inclusive and responsible Games. From setting pre-Games carbon budgets to developing new methods for measuring biodiversity, Paris 2024 put sustainability at the heart of every decision – and made it measurable. 

Showmanship or stewardship?

The Games have promised carbon neutrality by investing in reforestation projects. Six previous Games have claimed this title, all financing projects focused on renewables and planting trees. Yet offsets are notoriously hard to measure and overreliance on them can detract from efforts to reduce carbon emissions in the first place. 

The Paris 2024 Olympics has managed to do both. Cutting event-related CO2 emissions in half, from 3.5 billion to 1.75 billion tonnes and only using offsets to neutralise unavoidable emissions. This two pronged approach not only achieves more impact, but engages spectators and corporations alike in the conversation about what really moves the needle in the fight against climate change. 

The organisers have since launched the Event Climate Coach App, to support other sports events to better anticipate, track and reduce their emissions. Initiatives like this at such a high profile event fosters a culture of environmental responsibility and community participation and can swing the global balance towards meaningful action.

Sustainability in the streets

The Athens games of 2004 witnessed state-of-the-art facilities and infrastructure go up overnight, only to fall into disuse and disrepair shortly afterward. Paris 2024, is taking a different approach and will host 95% of the Games in existing buildings. By reusing existing infrastructure, the Games has greatly reduced emissions and eliminated the use of diesel generators typically used to power temporary facilities. The organisers instead have connected all structures to the public electricity network and have secured 100% solar and wind energy for the entire Games.

The Olympic Village too will generate power from solar power and geothermal energy. The athletes will enjoy 10 hectares of parks and gardens, 9,000 newly planted trees and rooftops designed to encourage biodiversity. Many have already taken to social media to showcase their thoughts on the recyclable cardboard beds and mattresses first introduced in Tokyo. 

The entire Village has been built in line with a low carbon budget using new tools, technology and sustainable materials. 100% of the wood has come from ‘eco-managed forests’ including a minimum of 30% French wood. The use of low or ultra low carbon concrete helped reduce GHG emissions by 30%. Plus, the whole area is being repurposed into living quarters and offices by November of 2024 – a true circular approach.

What is spectacular about feats such as this is that Paris 2024 has not only set new standards, but it has paved the way for others to follow. This collaborative effort from businesses, localities and organisers at a national and international level, sets the bar for sustainable development around the world.

Even the river Seine River has undergone change. Swimming has been banned in the river for 101 years due to the presence of disease-bearing organisms. But now, thanks to the Games, pollution remediation and biodiversity projects succeeded in cleaning it. Paris 2024 will be the first Games to safely allow competitions in an urban river.

A circular approach

Paris 2024 also has a zero-waste policy that encourages the recycling and composting of materials. This includes using recycled plastic in new seating areas, cutting single-use plastic in half in catering and ensuring that any temporary structures are reused or recycled post-Games. Their innovative sourcing strategy means 75% of sporting equipment and electronic devices will be hired or donated. 90% of the 6 million assets will be returned, challenging the taboos on reuse and setting a precedent for Games to come. 

Ripples create tides

The ripples of change from the Olympics have the power to penetrate all levels of society. Within the Games themselves is the returning Refugee team, a symbol of unity and inclusivity that inspires conversations about the value of refugees while maintaining focus on international conflict resolution. For the first time in over a century, women are expected to have equal representation amongst the athletes.

Change is visible beyond the startlines too. Paris 2024’s Legacy and Sustainability strategy aims to harness the event to promote how people perceive women in sport, disability and accessibility within France and internationally.

The Impact 2024 programme, a social initiative launched by the Paris Olympic Games, has already transformed and impacted the lives of millions in France and Africa. Funding sports projects that encourage movement and social cohesion Paris 2024 is on track to create a social legacy that will live on long after the Games are over.

Supply chains at scale 

As you sit in the stands to watch the athletes perform, your food and drink could have been sourced from a far flung country, wrapped in plastic from supply chains that use child labour. Or, it could have been sourced locally from a green supplier who employs vulnerable workers. 

Paris 2024 has used its supply chains to create real impact, encouraging small, local businesses and those with a social and environmental focus to apply for tenders. Nearly 500 businesses from the social and solidarity economy have been contracted, creating ripples of positive change across all levels of society.

With 13 million meals being prepared over 4 weeks, the Games have doubled the proportion of plant-based ingredients, sourced 80% from local agriculture and will cut food waste through better estimation and planning​. 

The organisers are the first to achieve an ‘exemplary’ level in compliance with ISO 20400 standard of responsible procurement. Which means that environmental and social requirements have been met at every stage of all purchasing decisions. Something close to our own hearts. 

The true cost

Large-scale events are still a burden on our planet despite best efforts. Air France predicts they will fly 125,000 customers per day in the build up to the event and 20% of all competing athletes. More could still be done to encourage sustainable tourism, such as taking the train if travelling from Europe. Suggestions have been made to rotate hosting countries in more accessible areas or even reduce the scope of the games to lower the negative impact. The cost to the hosting country regulars runs into billions of dollars, leaving governments with debt that could take years to repay. 

Lessons for the future

Yet, the Olympic Games will not only raise the profile of the athletes taking part, but move the conversation about sustainability. With thousands of visitors choosing plant-based options, taking public transport or riding bikes, the collective impact at the event is immense. 

This kind of collective action, whether at a sporting event, concert or protest, has the power to turn the tide for our planet. It proves to us all that sustainable living at scale can be achieved with proper planning and care. The development of new tools, apps and measurements that can be applied beyond sporting events has laid the foundations for a new normal we can all be excited about. 

So are they the greenest ever games?

The Paris 2024 Olympics will be a spectacle for all the right reasons. The organisers have made significant strides in sustainability and social inclusivity. By prioritising existing venues, implementing zero-waste strategies and investing in renewable energy, the Games will significantly reduce their environmental footprint. Initiatives like the Refugee Olympic Team, gender parity and community involvement highlight a deep commitment to equality and diversity​ and strategies are in place to ensure this lasts.  

These efforts ensure the Games will be a beacon of environmental and social progress on the global stage, setting a precedent for all that follow.