How Paris 2024 halved its carbon footprint compared to London and Rio

Paris 2024 has achieved an incredible milestone by halving its carbon footprint compared to the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympics, setting a gold standard for environmentally conscious global events. The Games reduced emissions to 1.59 million tonnes of CO2, a remarkable 54.6% drop from the usual 3.5 million tonnes.

This was made possible by prioritizing sustainability from the start: instead of constructing new venues, most events utilized temporary or existing infrastructure, with only one new permanent building the Aquatic Centre designed for long-term use. Innovative energy strategies meant that 98.4% of the Games’ power came from renewable sources, cutting reliance on polluting diesel generators. Catering focused on doubling plant-based meals and local sourcing, which reduced the carbon footprint to just 1kg of CO2 per meal. Transport was equally eco-friendly, with hundreds of kilometers of cycling lanes connecting venues and 20,000 temporary bike parks encouraging low-carbon travel. However, challenges remain: spectator travel still accounted for over half of the emissions (833,600 tonnes), highlighting the massive impact traveling and global events like these have on the environment and ultimately the need for greener international travel solutions.

Paris 2024’s approach proves that ambitious climate goals are possible with thoughtful planning and innovative solutions, setting a gold standard for sustainability in global sports and events.