IOC says Games will be the most sustainable in history

Less than a year before the opening of Paris-2024, the Sovereign Prince Albert II of Monaco, member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and president of the Sustainability and Legacy Commission, issued a letter on behalf of the entity this Monday ( 31) to ensure that the next edition of the Olympic Games will be the most sustainable in history.

Confident of positive results throughout Paris-2024, Albert of Monaco II revealed that the French want to take first place in carbon emissions reductions in major sporting events and that the country will encourage energy conservation, innovation and creativity.

“In less than a year, the world will come together for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. We live in a turbulent and polarized world, and uniting people around sport, across political and social divides, is needed more than ever. At the same time, with increasing climate change, the footprint of the Olympic Games is a valid concern that needs to be addressed,” he said. “The Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games are moving towards this challenge more than any previous Games. And they are doing so by focusing first and foremost on reducing emissions.”

The event’s Organizing Committee plans to reduce carbon emissions by half compared to the average for London 2012 and Rio 2016. “This goal reflects the IOC’s 2020+5 Olympic Agenda and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, which world governments signed in 2015.”

Tokyo-2020 has already stood out for its sustainable actions and, according to Albert of Monaco II, carbon reduction will become a contractual requirement for all Olympic hosts.

“From 2030, the Olympic Venue Contract establishes mandatory requirements to minimize direct and indirect carbon emissions. The same contract also obliges the Games organizers to encourage interested parties to take action against climate change”, he said.

Paris-2024 is avoiding new construction. Approximately 95% of the sites will be pre-existing, renovated and modernized facilities or temporary structures. The locations have been specifically chosen so that they can be accessed by public transport. The city is also setting new sustainability standards for major sporting events, encouraging energy conservation, innovation and creativity.

“This will be the Olympic Games of a new era, powered by 100% renewable energy, mostly clean electricity but also biogas. All sites will be connected to the grid by grid operator Enedis and supplied by EDF with renewable electricity from wind farms. and solar”, revealed the leader.

According to the IOC, not using diesel generators will reduce the equivalent of 13,000 tons of carbon emissions. Such solutions will remain in place after the Games, allowing other events to also reduce their emissions.

The organizers also promise to serve 13 million meals and snacks in a more sustainable way. The target is an average of 1kg of CO 2 per meal, compared to the French average of 2.3kg, with 80% of the ingredients being of French origin and at least 30% organic. Plant-based products will be doubled, while cutting plastic use in half.

“While there are currently no solutions to fully eliminate the carbon footprint of major events, Paris-2024 will show how this can be reduced, setting out a clear path to bringing the world together in a much more sustainable way. With its fascinating visibility, the Games already serve as an incubator for sustainable solutions that can be applied and further integrated by sporting events around the world,” said a confident Albert of Monaco II.