How sustainable are the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris?
At the Summer Games in Paris, there were numerous big and small innovations. One of the most notable was the opening ceremony on July 26, which for the first time did not take place in a stadium, but as a ship parade on the Seine (even if athletes and spectators had to brave the heavy rain in the meantime).
Like the organizers of EURO 2024, the organizing team of the Olympic Games has also worked hard to make the sporting event as environmentally friendly as possible. Let's take a look at the many sustainability measures.
1. Renewable energies and CO₂ reduction
Paris 2024 is committed to running all competition venues on 100% renewable energy. This is achieved through the use of wind and solar energy. For example, solar panels have been installed on the roofs of buildings, and the wind energy comes from nearby wind farms.
The goal is to reduce CO₂ emissions by 50% compared to previous games. To achieve this, Paris is relying on low-carbon technologies and infrastructure. An example of this is the use of electric vehicles to transport the athletes and officials.
If the weather does not cooperate and the sun or wind does not provide sufficient energy, an EU-wide system of "guarantees of origin" is used. This approach is designed to ensure that every megawatt-hour consumed is offset by the purchase of renewable electricity that is fed into the grid elsewhere.
2. Sustainable construction and infrastructure
Instead of erecting many new buildings, Paris 2024 will mainly use existing structures. 95% of the required facilities are either already in place or have been temporarily built to conserve resources, such as the temporary Grand Palais on the Champ-de-Mars for the sports of judo and wrestling. This minimizes the need for new construction and significantly reduces the ecological footprint.
Among the few new buildings are the water sports centre, the Le Bourget climbing facility and the sports arena in Porte de La Chapelle. These buildings are constructed from low-carbon materials and are designed for later use, such as educational institutions or housing.
The Olympic Village in the suburb of Seine-Saint-Denis is intended to be a model example of sustainable development. After the Games, according to the plan, it will be transformed into a lively residential district that will mainly benefit families and students.
A special feature was the comprehensive cleaning of the Seine, which served as a venue for open water swimming and triathlon (small downer: the men's competition had to be postponed by one day at short notice due to poor water quality).
The city of Paris and the state have invested around 1.4 billion euros in cleaning. This is a project that goes beyond the city limits: 23,000 wastewater tributaries of the Seine and the Marne have been rehabilitated and new sewage treatment plants have been built on the banks of the river. In addition to the environment, people should also benefit from this: After the Olympic Games, tourists and locals should have the opportunity to swim in the Seine. However, it remains to be seen how the water quality will develop in the future.
3. Mobility and transport
All competition venues can be reached by public transport. New cycle paths have been created to support environmentally friendly transport. For example, new cycle paths connect the Stade de France and the swimming pool to the Olympic Village.
A "Zone à Trafic Limité" (traffic-calmed area) has been set up in the city centre to reduce car traffic. A year before the Games, Paris began removing parking spaces in the city and turning the resulting areas into green zones. In addition, a number of noise barriers have been built. The city of Paris introduced speed limits on the city motorway and banned coaches from the centre.
A fleet of electric vehicles will be used to transport the officials and athletes . Since the sports facilities are all within a radius of only ten kilometers, they should be able to be reached in a maximum of 30 minutes.
4. Waste management and circular economy
Paris 2024 has a strict "zero waste" policy that aims to minimise waste and maximise recycling. For example, all events rely on reusable materials and comprehensive waste separation systems. The use of reusable drinking bottles and the construction of drinking fountains are intended to reduce the consumption of single-use plastic by half. By the way, the Olympians slept on cardboard beds that can be recycled after the Games.
The catering during the games is regional and seasonal, with a focus on low-meat dishes. Not all athletes liked this, but it reduced waste and CO₂ emissions associated with the production and transport of food.
Paris is also committed to a circular economy, in which products and materials are used and recycled for as long as possible. This also helps to conserve resources and reduce waste.
5. Offsetting and climate protection projects
Paris 2024 supports a variety of climate protection projects to offset unavoidable emissions. These include reforestation initiatives and projects to preserve the oceans.
On the one hand, the compensation takes place on a global level, with projects carried out on all continents. For example, forest and ocean projects that act as carbon sinks are promoted. On the other hand, the organizing team has set up local compensation programs in cooperation with the city of Paris and the ÃŽle-de-France region.
Sustainability measures under discussion
The measures for sustainability at the Paris 2024 Olympics have been largely well received, but there are also some criticisms and challenges that are being discussed.
Many observers praise the 2024 Olympic Games for their ambitious sustainability goals and see them as a model for future international events. The consistent use of renewable energies, the pursuit of CO₂ neutrality and the commitment to sustainable infrastructure are seen as exemplary.
The use of existing structures and the integration of new infrastructures into the long-term urban planning of Paris are also highlighted as positive. According to the assessment, this shows that the Games are not just temporary measures, but could have a lasting positive impact on the city. The promotion of public transport and cycle paths is also seen as an important step towards reducing traffic and emissions in the city.
Many of the Olympic sports facilities were temporarily built in the city. This minimizes the ecological footprint, while at the same time making the facilities easier to reach by public transport.
Some of the construction projects, such as the tower for the surfing competitions in Tahiti, on the other hand, are met with criticism from environmentalists. These projects are considered potentially harmful to the local environment, especially if the competitions take place in sensitive ecosystems such as coral reefs.
There are also concerns about the social impact of the Olympic Village, as it is feared that housing costs could become prohibitive for many residents after the Games. The prices of apartments in the Olympic Village could be too high, especially for the targeted families and students
Some critics also question whether all sustainability goals can actually be achieved. The challenge of effectively implementing so many different measures and the possibility of deviations from the original plans are viewed with skepticism. It may take some time before we know for sure: The "Post-Games Sustainability Report" of the Tokyo Games, which took place in the summer of 2021, was published about half a year after the event.