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With global attention focused on Paris for the 2024 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad), the event organizers have used the opportunity to highlight efforts to make the games more sustainable. While there have been some setbacks, particularly regarding pollution in the Seine River and a reversal on using air conditioners in the Olympic Village, the Paris Olympics have won overall high marks for being environmentally friendly.

The Paris Agreement, signed in 2016, remains the most comprehensive international climate treaty to date, with 196 parties adopting goals to limit global warming by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. With this in mind, organizers of the Paris Olympics set ambitious targets to limit the carbon footprint of construction and operations for the 2024 event to half of the emissions at the 2012 London Olympics and 2016 Rio Olympics. 

As detailed in one of our Top Stories from CleanLink, the organizers put in place several measures to reduce emissions. These included powering the events’ operations with 100% renewable energy, prohibiting diesel generators, limiting the number of new buildings, using low-carbon concrete and recycled materials for any construction needed, using seats made of recycled plastic, and ensuring that all furniture and temporary buildings have a guaranteed second life.

Climate change is now top of mind for many major sporting events like the Olympics and FIFA World Cup, with organizers needing to carefully select host cities and time periods to avoid problems caused by extreme heat, particularly for winter sports. As reported in Virginia Mercury, uncertainty about conditions for winter sports caused the International Olympic Committee to delay the selection of host cities for future Winter Games. FIFA moved the 2022 Men’s World Cup from June to November to avoid extreme heat at the host country Qatar. 

Athletes have also expressed concerns about the threats posed to competitors by climate change. Ahead of the Paris Olympics, The British Association for Sustainable Sport (BASIS) issued its Rings of Fire II report in which elite athletes from 15 sports, along with leading climate scientists and thermal physiologists, discussed the risks and outlined recommendations to safeguard athletes.  

In addition to event organizers and athletes, sports businesses such as clothing and equipment brands are also recognizing the risks posed by climate change and are responding by promoting sustainable business practices. According to ISPO, which holds the world’s largest trade fair annually in Munich for sporting goods and sportswear, brands are using eco-friendly materials and reducing carbon footprints through energy-efficient manufacturing. 

The fast-moving, multi-billion business of international sports will continue to adapt to the challenges posed by climate change. Our team at G&A will stay on top of trends in the industry that can serve as examples to guide all businesses on your sustainability journey, staying true to the Olympic motto “Faster, Higher, Stronger – Together.”

Top Stories

• Paris Olympics Wins a Gold Medal for Sustainability (CleanLink)

• Paris Olympics promote sustainability for good reason (Virginia Mercury)

• Rings of Fire II (Basis)

• Championing a Greener Future: Sustainable Innovations in Sports Business (ISPO)

Sustainability Standard Setters & Policy Makers

SEC, SASB, GRI, IIRC, FSB-TCFD

• SBTi releases technical publications in an early step in the Corporate Net-Zero Standard review (SBTi)

• Carbon Credits Found to Be Mostly ‘Ineffective’ in Key Study (Bloomberg – subscription required)

• GRI, TNFD Release Guide to Help Companies Report on Nature Impact Using Both Standards (ESG Today)

ESG / Sustainable & Responsible Investment

Asset Owners & Managers, Ratings Agencies

• ESMA Recommends Sustainability Disclosure Requirements for All Financial Products (ESG Today)

• Companies, Investors Overlooking Major Financial Risks from Unmeasured Scope 3 Emissions: BCG, CDP Report (ESG Today)

• Green Impact Exchange Files to Launch First-Ever Sustainability-Focused Stock Exchange in U.S. (ESG Today)

Corporate Sustainability / ESG

Disclosure, Reporting, Corporate Initiatives

• Hard Work On Corporate Sustainability Begins Just As Luster Of ESG Seems To Be Fading (Forbes)

• Microsoft Purchases 80,000 Tons of Carbon Removals from U.S. Forest Management Project (ESG Today)

• Air New Zealand Removes 2030 Emissions Reduction Goal, Drops Out of SBTi (ESG Today)

Stakeholders That Matter

Developments, Trends, Corporate Actions Affecting Stakeholders

• Farmers need quality advice and support to adapt': Pressure mounts on government to clarify green vision for farming (ESG News)

• No 'silver bullet' solution for poultry sustainability (WATTPoltury)

• What to know about Project 2025’s plan for agriculture, and how it could lead to ‘real chaos’ (The Hill)

Global Sustainability News: Forward Momentum!

News & Developments of Note

• EU Expands Ecodesign Rules to Nearly All Goods, Enhancing Sustainability and Transparency (ESG News)

• China plans new carbon emission controls as it aims for 2030 peak (Reuters)

• New Zealand scraps clean, green policies to boost economy (Reuters)

Sustainability Data in Focus

Developments in Data, Research, Trends

• UK Beach Plastic Bag Pollution Drops 80% Post-Charge, Calls for Further Action (ESG News)

• Wind and solar energy overtake fossil fuels to provide 30% of EU electricity (The Guardian)

• 80% of Middle East Business Leaders Have a Sustainability Strategy, But Employees Prioritize Fair Pay Over ESG Initiatives: PwC Survey (ESG News)

U.S. Climate Actions

Updates from and about Washington D.C.

• Tim Walz Has Championed Climate as Governor (The New York Times – subscription required)

• Tim Mohin: States Making US Climate Reporting Inevitable (ESG News)

• US falling short of emissions goals: Research (The Hill)

• EPA awards $4.3B for climate pollution reduction projects (The Hill)

Eyes on Europe

ESG Regulations

• A call for the EU to take its role seriously in climate change and biodiversity policies of fisheries management (Euractiv)

• Labour's first two weeks: The devil is in the detail (Responsible Investor – subscription required)

• EU renewables compatible with food production, nature protection – and maybe humans (Euractiv)

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