Sustainability First: The Olympic Games Carbon Footprint

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Paris Olympic Games organizers were vocal about their focus on sustainability during their turn of hosting the games, stating much of the infrastructure including the athletes’ village, and additional public transport, built for the games will be integrated for use long after the games.

Still, organizers projected the carbon footprint of the Paris Olympics to be 1.5 million tons, about half of the carbon footprint of the London and Rio games.

As for future Olympic Games, experts have a few ideas on how to reduce the monumental emissions.

Some suggest downsizing the event entirely; over a third of estimated emissions for the Paris Games were attributed to travel for spectators,  athletes and officials. 

Limit the host cities to a rotation of cities, meaning after initial works the infrastructure will be there. 

Finally, establishing stronger transparency and accountability rules for the olympic committee, and encouraging renewable energy use in future games.