The facade of the town hall of Paris decorated for the Olympic Games.
Craig King has heard a lot about the sustainability of the upcoming Paris Olympics — its historic commitment to green energy, recycling and mass transit. But that's not why he's going to the games.
King will be in Paris with his wife to cheer on their son, Matt, who is on the U.S. Olympic swim team.
"We’ll be watching Matt and the team at the Paris La Défense Arena in Nanterre," says King, an airline pilot from Seattle.
Craig King with his son, Olympic swimmer Matt King and his wife, Linda.
The Kings are like a lot of Olympic spectators. They're not necessarily coming to the games because of its sustainability initiatives, but they're fascinated by them.
For example, King says he's noticed that the aquatic center was built with high-performance thermal and acoustic insulation, and rainwater funnel systems for all its lawn irrigation.
"The French are doing a great job at repurposing as many existing, eco-friendly buildings as possible for the games," he says. "Hopefully, they’ve been able to clean up all the glitter from the recent Taylor Swift concerts."
The Paris Olympics' sustainability plan is sprawling and staggeringly ambitious. It includes:
- Cutting greenhouse gas emissions by half and offsetting any residual emissions to achieve carbon neutrality.
- Creating an "eco-responsible" event that harnesses sustainable solutions.
- Protecting animal habitats through initiatives at the venues.
"They're designed to deliver an edition of the games that can be held up as an inspiring example and leave an enduring legacy," Tony Estanguet, president of the 2024 Olympics, wrote in the sustainability plan.
To be sure, the Paris Olympics have had their fair share of sustainability challenges. Those include a contaminated Seine River that, as of now, isn't suitable for swimming. Organizers also relented to pressure from athletes and allowed them to bring portable air conditioning units.
But there are also highlights, which include efforts to offer healthy and locally produced food and improved mass transit options, creating a legacy for future Olympics.
Sodexo Live! Executive Chef Charles Guilloy with his signature sweet potato dish. The French ... [+]
A sustainable food initiative from Sodexo Live!
One of the most prominent examples of sustainability is Sodexo Live!, the French catering company.
The company is planning a sustainable food service model with recipes that use seasonal produce. It also has a local purchasing policy — 80 percent of the total food supply is sourced from France — an ambitious food recycling program and a plan to minimize plastic packaging.
Sodexo Live! has also emphasized plant-based food. One-third of the meals it will serve in the athlete's village will be vegan, and 60 percent of the food served at the venues will be plant-based, according to Franck Chanevas, CEO of Sodexo Live! France and Spain.
"Paris 2024 will showcase Sodexo Live!'s expertise in organizing major events and underscore our dedication to advancing social and environmental progress worldwide," he adds.
Chanevas says Sodexo Live! is fully on board with the Olympic organizers' goals of cutting carbon emissions by half, and hopes to set a precedent for future major competitions, demonstrating the feasibility of sustainability.
"I think the Games will contribute to raising awareness about plant-based dishes, reducing food waste, and promoting local products," he says.
So if you're at an Olympic event next month and you order a plant-based hot dog, remember: It's all part of the games.
Björn Bender, president of Rail Europe.
Olympics get on the train — and bike
Another place where the Olympics are forging a new path is in sustainable transportation. Organizers want to cut carbon emissions by 50 percent compared to the average of the London and Rio games. It's even addressing the indirect footprint of the games, like spectator travel, by encouraging visitors to use sustainable transportation such as the train.
Organizers have planned the games to maximize use of the existing mass transportation network. There are also more than 400 kilometers of new bike lanes.
According to organizers, more than 80 percent of the Olympic venues are located within just 10 kilometers of the Olympic Village. This minimizes travel time for athletes.
Also, all venues are accessible by public transport. Public transport operators plan to expand the bus, metro and train services in Paris by 15 percent compared to regular summer schedules.
The transportation fleet used by athletes and accredited participants is set to include electric- hybrid- and hydrogen-powered vehicles. But these games will also use about 40 percent fewer vehicles compared to previous Olympics.
"The French officials are aiming to host the most responsible and sustainable games in history, and it's quite impressive," says Björn Bender, president of Rail Europe.
Bender expects more athletes, teams, fans, and spectators to choose train travel to and from the Olympics.
"This not only supports our dedication to sustainable transport but also highlights the environmental benefits of trains, which generate up to 90 percent less carbon dioxide compared to flying," he says. "This shift towards train travel during major sporting events exemplifies a global move towards more eco-friendly travel options."
Ralph Buehler, a professor of urban affairs and planning at Virginia Tech.
Is this the future of sustainability?
The changes didn't happen overnight. Paris is expecting 15 million visitors for the 2024 Summer Games, and it's been preparing for years.
"While such an influx would test the limits of any city, Paris has undergone a dramatic infrastructural transformation over the last decade," says Ralph Buehler, a professor of urban affairs and planning at Virginia Tech.
Buehler says Paris has transformed its approach to urban design from an engineering focus on the flow of cars and SUVs to a more holistic approach to an enhanced quality of life, including the promotion of bicycling, walking and public transport.
"These changes could serve as inspiration for other cities around the world searching for their own infrastructure and transportation solutions," he adds.
