The 2024 Paris Olympics organizers are attempting to cut down the amount of emissions produced by the global sporting event and claim new procedures will see emission rates be less than half of previous events.
“We want to show that we can do these Games with half the emissions,” says Georgina Gernon, Paris 2024’s Director of Environmental Excellence. “Within the limits of what is technically feasible in 2024, we will have made every effort to reduce, reduce, reduce.”
Paris plans to keep construction to a minimum by using existing structures or temporary builds needed for the event. Organizers also hope the access to public transport will help keep emission rates down.
Another step organizers are taking this year are running the Games without air conditioning. Athletes will keep cool via an underground water-cooling system.
Organizers claim the 2024 Paris Olympics will emit close to 1.6 million tons of CO2. The London 2012 and Rio 2016 Games produced, on average, 3.5 million tons of CO2.