European Environment Agency’s Post

The Seine: A Billion-Dollar Disappointment for Paris 2024 Paris’ ambitious project to clean the Seine for the 2024 Olympics, which has cost approximately $1.5 billion, has hit a major roadblock. Despite the massive investment, the triathlon event scheduled for today had to be canceled due to high levels of E. coli in the river, making it unsafe for human activity. The French capital’s sewage system, which combines street runoff with human waste, has been a significant contributor to this issue. During periods of heavy rain, the system overflows, releasing untreated waste into the Seine. This ancient infrastructure, despite recent updates, remains a critical flaw in Paris’ preparations for the Olympics. Efforts to clean the Seine included constructing large rainwater catch basins and tunnels to manage overflow, and daily testing of the water quality. Yet, these measures have not been enough to ensure consistently safe conditions. The high bacterial levels, exacerbated by recent heavy rains, underscore the persistent challenges faced by the city. This setback adds to the growing list of controversies and logistical issues plaguing the 2024 Olympics. As Paris grapples with these problems, the dream of a swimmable Seine by the time of the Games seems increasingly elusive. Hashtags: #Paris2024 #Olympics #SeineCleanup #EnvironmentalChallenges #PublicHealth

The cleanup of the Seine River, aimed at making it suitable for the Paris 2024 Olympics, has been a significant and costly undertaking, with an estimated total cost of €1.4 billion ($1.5 billion). Here’s a breakdown of the key expenses: Infrastructure Upgrades: - Installation of large water storage basins to manage sewage overflows. - Upgrades to sewage treatment plants and drainage systems to prevent pollutants from entering the river. Pollution Control Measures: - Implementation of advanced filtration and cleaning technologies to improve water quality. - Regular monitoring and testing of water to ensure safety for athletes. Construction and Maintenance: - Construction of new facilities and refurbishment of existing ones to support the cleanup operations. - Ongoing maintenance and operational costs to keep the river clean and safe. In a symbolic gesture to highlight the success of these efforts, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo and French Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra (picture below) took a swim in the Seine, showcasing the river's improved water quality and signaling its readiness for the Olympic events. Prior to this year, it was illegal to swim in the Seine due to its dangerously polluted state, which posed fatal risks. What are your thoughts on the extensive efforts and costs involved in cleaning up the Seine for the Paris 2024 Olympics? —————————————————————————————————————— P.S.: Need expert sports marketing and partnership solutions for your own business? Let's get chatting in my DMs. —————————————————————————————————————— #Paris2024 #SeineCleanup #Olympics #SportsBusiness #SportsNews

As Paris gears up for the grand spectacle of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, an unexpected contender has emerged, casting a shadow over the gleaming preparations: the water quality of the Seine River. Despite concerted efforts to cleanse its flows, the Seine remains a troubled waterway, unfit for the Olympic swimmers due to alarmingly high levels of Escherichia coli (E.Coli) and enterococci bacteria. This revelation comes after a critical assessment in 2023, where none of the 14 water sampling points along the Seine met the stringent European 'bathing' directive's standards, jeopardizing the dream of marathon swimmers taking to its historic waters in the summer of 2024.   #Pollution #WaterQuality #WaterPollution #France #SeineRiver   This content is jointly prepared by ripple2wave and ZWEEC Analytics Pte Ltd. Follow us for more interesting content on #water and #sustainability.   Sourced from: https://lnkd.in/g-kcKk9g

Are the Paris Olympics 2024 endangered? The summer Olympics and Paralympics in Paris are just a few weeks away. European countries such as Turkey, Greece and Cyprus already face temperatures above 40 degrees. While no weather forecast for the Olympic period is available yet, METEO FRANCE expects the Parisian summer to show above-average temperatures. 💡 This heat is intensified by the urban heat island effect, in which urban areas with more concrete constructions absorb more heat than rural areas, increasing cities' temperatures. 🏊🏾♀️ Extreme temperatures disrupt athletes' recovery, sleep and appetite and challenge the Olympic organising committee to take precautionary action. Although Paris is a "green" city with plenty of parcs, streets with trees, with initiatives to expand the green zones.... This summer will once again prove how #ClimateChange has a wide-ranging impact on various aspects of society and our everyday lives. It makes us aware of our work's urgency and climate action as a whole. 🌵 Collaborate with #BCHAR so that we can quickly scale our production facilities to produce #biochar and remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere / #CDR! Contact any of us, we're here for you - and the planet 😉

As Paris gears up for the grand spectacle of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, an unexpected contender has emerged, casting a shadow over the gleaming preparations: the water quality of the Seine River. Despite concerted efforts to cleanse its flows, the Seine remains a troubled waterway, unfit for the Olympic swimmers due to alarmingly high levels of Escherichia coli (E.Coli) and enterococci bacteria. This revelation comes after a critical assessment in 2023, where none of the 14 water sampling points along the Seine met the stringent European 'bathing' directive's standards, jeopardizing the dream of marathon swimmers taking to its historic waters in the summer of 2024.   #Pollution #WaterQuality #WaterPollution #France #SeineRiver   This content is jointly prepared by ZWEEC Analytics Pte Ltd and ripple2wave. Follow us for more interesting content on #water and #sustainability.   Sourced from: https://lnkd.in/gur2SyjM

As Paris gears up for the grand spectacle of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, an unexpected contender has emerged, casting a shadow over the gleaming preparations: the water quality of the Seine River. Despite concerted efforts to cleanse its flows, the Seine remains a troubled waterway, unfit for the Olympic swimmers due to alarmingly high levels of Escherichia coli (E.Coli) and enterococci bacteria. This revelation comes after a critical assessment in 2023, where none of the 14 water sampling points along the Seine met the stringent European 'bathing' directive's standards, jeopardizing the dream of marathon swimmers taking to its historic waters in the summer of 2024.   #Pollution #WaterQuality #WaterPollution #France #SeineRiver   This content is jointly prepared by ripple2wave and ZWEEC Analytics Pte Ltd. Follow us for more interesting content on #water and #sustainability.   Sourced from: https://lnkd.in/gur2SyjM

The Olympic Game held in Paris, France recently shows how possible it could be to make the event more #ecofriendly. Paris transformed eight temporary venues among many iconic attractions. The Paris Organizing Committee creatively turned landmarks such as the Palace of Versailles and the Grand Palace into competition sites, and 95% of the competition venues were in use as existing venues or temporary structures. At the end of the #Olympics, all the temporary stands and stadiums will be removed, leaving no trace of the event. The Grand Palace will be reopened to the public in 2025, saving money as well as causing no damage to the environment. In addition, pedestrian crossings are laid with discarded shell material, which absorbs moisture on rainy days and evaporates on sunny days to cool the road. Inside the athletes' apartments, water cooled to 4 °C from a well 70 meters underground from a nearby geothermal power plant is taken by using a water-cooling system and fed into pipes under the floor of each apartment, making the #temperature inside the building 6 to 10 °C lower than that outside. For more information, please follow the Global Climate Innovation Center. #GCIC #Olympic #Paris #France

📌Paris' $1.5 billion Seine river cleanup faces challenges amid E. Coli concerns during Olympics The 2024 #Olympics in #Paris have sparked significant discussion, particularly around the $1.5 billion investment to clean up the #Seine River. Unfortunately, this effort is facing setbacks due to recent elevated E. coli levels. Key Points: - Historical Investment Concerns: Historically, hosting the Olympics is seen as a financially unwise decision, with only one host ever turning a profit. Many hosts incur significant budget overruns. - Paris' Commitment: To alleviate taxpayer concerns, Paris invested heavily in cleaning the Seine River, aiming for it to be swimmable post-Olympics. - Complex Infrastructure: The project was complicated by the city's age, leading to a solution involving a massive sewage collection system designed to prevent contamination. - Athlete Concerns: Competitors have voiced their frustrations, with Belgian triathlete Marten Van Riel highlighting the health risks and lack of alternative plans. Personal Reflection: I was personally excited to witness the Olympic events set against the backdrop of Paris' iconic landmarks. The prospect of seeing world-class athletes compete near historic sites like the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame was truly fascinating. Unfortunately, many events and organizational efforts have not met expectations so far. However, I am eagerly looking forward to the beach #volleyball matches. 😁 What are your thoughts on the Olympics so far?

Paris vies for an Olympic gold in sustainability The Olympics have set the target of reducing their carbon footprint by half, compared to the previous editions, and capping emissions at 1.75 million tonnes of CO2. Follow Press Insider for more updates! #Paris2024 #olympics #olympics2024 #parisolympics #parisolympics2024 #olympicgames #pressinsider #indiasglobalvoice

🌍🏅It's the third week of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, and today we're uncovering critical insights of the climate risk exposure that one of the key venues has: Pont Alexandre III. Located at the heart of Paris, Pont Alexandre III, with its iconic bronze statues and stunning views, this morning hosted the triathlon and later this week it served as a spectacular backdrop for the Marathon Swimming event. Yet, amidst its grandeur, it faces a significant challenge—it ranks as the second-highest venue for combined physical risk in Île-de-Paris. 🔍 EarthScan Insights: 🌊 Flooding Risk: In 2024, Pont Alexandre III is rated 'E' for Combined Physical Risk, emphasizing the urgent need for action against flooding threats. 🔥 Heatwave Surge: Since 1970, the number of heatwave days has increased by 3.6 days. By the end of this century, this number could reach 27 days annually. 🌡️ Temperature Rise: Maximum temperatures have risen by 2°C since 1970. By 2050, they could soar up to 41.5°C, significantly intensifying the urban heat island effect in the city's center. 🚨 Future Challenges: Anticipated increases in #drought and #heatstress. As we revel in the spirit of the Olympics, it's essential to spotlight the climate challenges our historic venues face. For more EarthScan insights into the climate risks facing other Olympic venues, check out our full report here: https://bit.ly/3yaoNvC #Paris2024 #ClimateRisks #Olympics #UrbanResilience #FutureProofing