From gold to green: Can the Paris 2024 Olympics slash emissions?

(Context, 18 Apr 2024) Organisers of the Paris Games have pledged to cut planet-heating emissions in half but how will they deliver on this ambition?

This summer, up to 15,000 athletes will descend on Paris in search of sporting glory but the organisers of the 2024 Games have added a fresh ambition to the Olympic motto of "faster, higher, stronger" - they want to be greener too. 

As global sporting bodies face increased scrutiny over their environmental impact, the Paris organisers have vowed to halve the carbon footprint of this summer's Games compared to previous years - they say the event, which begins on July 26, will be "historic for the climate".

The Games are expected to attract around 10 million spectators, who, alongside athletes from around 200 countries, require transport, food and accommodation. Then there is the carbon footprint of new facilities built to host the different events.

Previous Summer Games emitted an average of 3.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide. The Paris organisers have set a target of not exceeding 1.5 million tonnes.

So what does Paris plan to do and will it work?

What measures are in place to cut emissions? 

The ambitious pledges of the Paris organisers are in line with the wider sustainability goals of the International Olympic Committee, which has committed to cut emissions by 50% by 2030.

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Context, 18 Apr 2024: From gold to green: Can the Paris 2024 Olympics slash emissions?