This summer, Paris has become the focus of global attention, showcasing an Olympics filled with passion and vitality. This Olympics presents a new concept: sports and environmental protection can go hand in hand and support each other. It is an opportunity for the world to see how we can promote sustainable development through sports and protect our planet.
According to predictions, the carbon footprint of this year’s Paris Olympics will reach 1.58 million tons of CO2 equivalent. This figure is less than half of the average carbon footprint of 3.5 million tons of CO2 equivalent for recent Olympics. This achievement demonstrates Paris’s commitment and efforts towards environmental protection.
To create the greenest Olympics in history, the organizers have adopted many sustainable strategies and measures. They have implemented green reforms in transportation, food, and competition venues, and have made significant efforts to control carbon emissions. These efforts aim to achieve a more environmentally friendly and sustainable Olympics. Here are the sustainability highlights of this year’s Olympics.
Low-Carbon Transportation Planning and Implementation
For this Olympics, the official carefully planned the distribution of competition venues, with over 80% of the venues located within 10 kilometers of the athletes’ village. This planning not only facilitates the athletes’ travel but also effectively reduces transportation distances, further lowering carbon emissions.
Additionally, to further reduce the carbon footprint, shuttle transportation mainly uses electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, and hydrogen-powered vehicles. The use of these vehicles not only reduces carbon emissions but also demonstrates the Olympics’ commitment to environmental protection and support for renewable energy.
At the same time, 400 kilometers of new bicycle lanes have been built locally to encourage people to travel by bicycle, further reducing carbon emissions. This not only provides a healthy way to travel but also adds a beautiful scenery line to the city.
These measures correspond to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11.2: “Affordable and sustainable transport systems.” This goal emphasizes the importance of establishing affordable and sustainable transport systems, and this Olympics is practicing this goal, contributing to global sustainable development.
The Goal of Using Renewable Energy in Full
In this Paris Olympics, all competition venues insist on using completely renewable energy. This is achieved through the joint power supply of six wind power stations and two solar power stations, providing the necessary energy for all Olympic activities. This practice not only reflects the commitment to environmental protection but also demonstrates the practical application and benefits of renewable energy.
For venues that cannot directly connect to wind or solar power stations, the organizing committee has chosen other sustainable energy solutions. These include using biofuels, hydrogen, or batteries to provide energy. These energy sources are environmentally friendly and can effectively reduce carbon emissions.
Medals Cast from Tower Scrap
The design of this year’s Olympic medals integrates sustainable practices with historical symbolism. This unique design concept not only reflects the commitment to environmental protection but also closely links the athletes’ glory with Paris’s history. Each medal’s front is inlaid with a uniquely shaped hexagonal iron piece, sourced from discarded iron materials from past repairs of the Eiffel Tower. This design not only incorporates the concept of recycling but also closely connects the history of the Eiffel Tower with the Olympic medals, making each medal rich in historical significance.
The process of making the award podium is also full of the pursuit of sustainability. The podium is made of French native poplar wood and 100% recycled plastic. This design not only shows support for local industries, but also embodies the persistence of environmental protection. Moreover, the entire production process is completed in France, which not only ensures the quality of the product, but also reduces carbon emissions during transportation.
About the Environmental Controversy of This Olympics
Although the sustainable development strategy of the Paris Olympics has been widely praised in many aspects, there are also some negative reports. First of all, the sponsor list of the Paris Olympics includes many fossil energy or industrial giants, such as Air France, EDF, Toyota, Air Liquide, and ArcelorMittal. These companies continue to emit a large amount of carbon, destroy the environment, and on the other hand, package their social responsibility through sports activities, trying to wash away their pollution responsibilities. This behavior is called “greenwashing”, which has aroused public doubts.
At the same time, Anne Hidalgo, the mayor of Paris, once questioned the Paris Olympic Committee, believing that TotalEnergies, a French oil company, should not become an Olympic sponsor. However, her efforts failed to successfully prevent Total from becoming a sponsor.
The sustainable development strategy of the Paris Olympics is an important milestone, showing how large-scale events can combine environmental protection and sustainable development. Although there are still many challenges and problems to be solved, we should affirm and learn from their efforts and innovations. We look forward to future Olympics and other large-scale events continuing this trend and incorporating the concept of sustainable development into their planning and implementation. Only in this way can we achieve true sustainable development and protect our planet, so that future generations can live in a healthy and prosperous environment. We look forward to seeing more innovations and efforts to achieve this goal. Let us work together to create a better future for our earth, our home.
Recommend for you:
NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang: AI and Sustainability Dual Engines Driving a New Era
