Paris Aims To Reduce The Olympics Carbon Footprint

By A. Hemnani

The Olympics are a great international multi-sport event! Every four years we gather around to cheer for our country! The joy of the event is contagious! However, have you ever stopped to think about the impact it has on our planet?  

A carbon footprint is generated from all the greenhouse gasses that are made by our actions. With less then 100 days left until the 2024 Olympics, what will Paris be doing to minimize its carbon footprint?  

This year Paris has pinpointed 3 key targets to improve the 2024 Olympics carbon footprint. These 3 targets include: reducing their emission rates, compensating for more than 100% of the residual emissions, and using their social media influence to encourage all the Olympics fans to take actions against climate change.  

A big part of  hosting the Olympics, is the infrastructure this event requires. With a large cost and an even larger Carbon footprint, the past few Olympics have had to build a lot of new stadiums. However, this year Paris will be using 95% of existing or temporary infrastructure for the games. At the end of the Olympics all the temporary infrastructure will be either recycled, repurposed, or reused. This is why Paris has made it a priority to host games in the existing venues. 

Even with all these fantastic changes to reduce the carbon footprint, Paris has also been adding events to the Olympics, such as: sport climbing, skateboarding, and surfing. These activities could be a big hit, but they will also add to the Carbon footprint.