Paris Olympics 2024- Through ESG Lens 🔎
Sustainability has increasingly become a core focus for the Olympic Games over the years. Host cities are responsible for balancing the prestige and scale of the event with a commitment to reducing environmental impact and promoting social and economic benefits.
From the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, which set early examples of sustainable urban development, to the 2012 London Games, known for its extensive use of existing venues and ambitious carbon footprint reduction goals, the Olympics have evolved to incorporate sustainability into their planning and execution. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has formalized these efforts through initiatives like Olympic Agenda 2020, which emphasizes the importance of sustainability and legacy. This agenda encourages host cities to use existing infrastructure, minimize waste, and invest in long-term community benefits.
Marie Sallois, Director of Sustainability at the International Olympic Committee, stated
"Improving the sustainability of the Olympic Games and ensuring they create lasting, measurable benefits for local populations even before the event are amongst the IOC’s top priorities. Paris 2024, as the first edition of the Games aligned with our strategic roadmap, Olympic Agenda 2020, is setting new standards for sports events in France and beyond, and providing a pragmatic toolbox for future sports events organisers."-
Environment
The Paris 2024 Olympics have set an ambitious goal to halve their carbon footprint compared to London 2012 and Rio 2016, aiming for a maximum of 1.75 million tonnes of CO2, including direct and indirect emissions such as spectator travel. To achieve this, 95% of the venues are existing or temporary, all connected to the public electricity network, with the only new competition venue, the solar-powered Aquatics Centre, using natural bio-based and recycled materials. Waste management efforts include a 50% reduction in single-use plastics for food and beverages, redeploying, reusing, or recycling 90% of signage elements, and recycling 100% of uneaten food. The Games will use 100% renewable energy, avoiding temporary diesel generators, with solar panels on the Aquatics Centre and Olympic Village, and geothermal cooling systems in place.
Social
The sustainability strategy incorporates offsets by investing in global environmental and social projects, doubling the amount of plant-based food, and halving single-use plastic use. The Athletes' Village, surrounded by 9,000 newly planted trees, will feature eco-friendly furniture made from recycled materials, contributing to community engagement and creating green spaces. Health and safety measures are taken to protect athletes and fans from extreme weather conditions, and educational programs promote sustainability among participants and spectators.
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Governance
Governance involves aligning with the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, accounting for all carbon emissions, and ensuring transparency and accountability by publishing the carbon footprint post-Games and obtaining third-party verification. Despite these efforts, significant challenges remain, particularly with spectator travel, which typically accounts for 80% of a sporting event's emissions. The central ticketing system could increase air travel emissions, and previous Games have shown that achieving a high sustainability score is difficult. Criticisms of the methodology for calculating emissions have led to the IOC introducing a standardized framework.
Criticism and Greenwashing
Despite the comprehensive sustainability plans, the Paris 2024 Olympics face accusations of greenwashing. Critics argue that true sustainability requires reducing the size of the Games, limiting tourist travel, and ensuring thorough, transparent reporting. The biggest emission sources during mega-events are traditionally the transport of participants and the construction of buildings and infrastructure. Air travel, potential rail strikes, and the delayed launch of new metro lines could see emissions soaring. Additionally, the controversial construction of new road infrastructure generates lasting increases in traffic. The International Olympics Committee has been criticized for being one of the largest culprits of greenwashing in the sporting world. Major sponsors like Coca-Cola, Toyota, and Samsung have been singled out for their environmental practices. Although significant strides have been made, the overarching question remains: Can the Olympics truly be an environmentally sustainable event? The success of these efforts will be closely watched as a benchmark for future global sporting events.
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