PARIS 2024 COMMITS TO A CLIMATE POSITIVE OLYMPIC & PARALYMPIC GAMES

USPA NEWS - The Paris 2024 Board of Directors met on 16 March to approve the Games´ climate strategy which, in line with the Paris Agreement, will considerably reduce CO2 emissions and will offset in excess of its residual emissions linked to the event. As a result, Paris 2024 will become climate positive, a world´s first for a sports event.  It is the world´s first Olympic Games with a positive contribution to the climate. The Paris 2024 Board of Directors has approved a climate strategy which commits Paris 2024 to organising the world´s first Olympic and Paralympic Games with a positive contribution to the climate. The strategy is based on three pillars: reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, support for projects with a positive contribution to climate, and mobilisation of stakeholders to maximise long-term positive impact. 

REDUCTION OF CO2 EMISSION BY 50%------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Paris 2024´s primary objective is to prevent and reduce  greenhouse gas emissions linked to the event. This will be achieved through: a cost-effective and compact venue concept (95% of venues are existing or temporary), the inclusion of low-carbon solutions for all activities within the venues, the use of renewable energy for all venues which will all be accessible by public transport, a sustainable catering plan, a responsible digital plan, the use of low-carbon temporary equipment, and a reliance on principles of the circular economy . In total, Paris 2024 will reduce emissions linked to the event by 50% when compared to previous editions of the Games. SUPPORT FOR PROJECTS WITH A POSITIVE CONTRIBUTION TO CLIMATE------------------------------------------------ Paris 2024 is considering the broadest possible scope of emissions, including the transportation of international spectators, and is committed to offsetting all emissions that cannot be prevented by supporting CO2 avoidance and capture projects. These projects, which are located on all five continents and meet the highest international certification standards, include projects to conserve and restore forests and oceans, which are strong CO2 captors; and projects that avoid negative climate impacts (for example, by providing better cookstoves to populations still dependent on rudimentary cooking tools).  The first offsetting projects will be confirmed this year.-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  The Paris 2024 Board of Directors has secured the carbon neutrality of the Games as early as three years prior to the Games, and will now take its commitment to protecting the climate one step further. Paris 2024 will offset more emissions than it will create by supporting projects in France which are still emerging. Paris 2024 will  contribute to the development of local projects, that are essential in the fight against climate change, and which provide other benefits such as protecting biodiversity or improving citizens´ quality of life. To achieve this ambition, Paris 2024 will mobilise all of its stakeholders, relying particularly on the City of Paris and the Ile-de-France region, who are developing their own local offset programmes. The first co-construction workshops will take place this week.  

GAMES THAT ARE INCLUSIVE AND ACCESSIBLE TO ALL----------------------------------------------------------------------- As a result of hosting the first Summer Paralympic Games in France, Paris 2024 has a unique opportunity to improve the universal accessibility of host territories in France, and to generate an “accessibility“ standard for the organisation of future events. This is the objective of Paris 2024´s Universal Accessibility strategy, approved by the Board of Directors. The strategy is the result of a process of collaboration with stakeholders and associations, and aims to organise exemplary Olympic and Paralympic Games with regards to universal accessibility, well beyond the regulatory standards. The  Paris 2024 Games will therefore offer an equitable experience to all participants (para-athletes, spectators, volunteers, journalists etc.), whether or not they have specific needs. From access to online information, to the competition and celebration venues, Paris 2024 will work closely with its delivery partners to guarantee a complete and comfortable experience for all.--------------------  Paris 2024 is also engaging all of its stakeholders to ensure that the Games leave a legacy of accessibility through the improvement or creation of new facilities and services accessible to all, as well as through a comprehensive training program to ensure high-quality hosting for people of all abilities. The Olympic and Paralympic Village, built in Seine-Saint-Denis by SOLIDEO, is a symbol of this commitment. It will be developed to accommodate para-athletes in the most comfortable conditions of accessibility during the Paralympic Games. As part of its legacy plan, the Village will then become a new residential area that will be 100% accessible, offering a standard-setting, inclusive experience that will act as a blueprint for the rest of France.

MOBILISATION aAROUND THE OLYMPIC & PARALYMPIC GAMES VIA APLATFORM----------------------------------- Paris 2024´s is committed to ensuring the Games serves as a platform to accelerate climate action on a local level and will share tools and methodologies to change habits and guide all stakeholders in reducing their own CO2 emissions Some examples of how Paris 2024 will mobilise its stakeholders, include: “¢ Paris 2024 launched the “Climate Coach“, an application designed by Paris 2024 to help its employees reduce their personal and professional carbon footprint. “¢ Paris 2024 encourages its commercial partners and its suppliers to apply sustainability and carbon neutrality criteria for 100% of the Games purchases, as part of its responsible procurement strategy. “¢ By 2022, Paris 2024 will create a custom “carbon footprint calculator“ for sporting events which will be made available to the industry. Together with the IOC, Paris 2024 is also working internationally with the UN as part of the “Sports for Climate Action“ initiative to raise awareness and incite action among the global sports community. Paris 2024, as a signatory of the Charter of 15 eco-responsible commitments of the Ministry of Sport and the WWF, will bring together and engage with all sports stakeholders in France. Together with the IOC, Paris 2024 is also working internationally with the UN as part of the “Sports for Climate Action“ initiative to raise awareness and incite action among the global sports community. Paris 2024, as a signatory of the Charter of 15 eco-responsible commitments of the Ministry of Sport and the WWF, will bring together and engage with all sports stakeholders in France.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  Niclas Svenningsen, Manager for Global Climate Action, UNFCCC : “Through their new climate action strategy, Paris 2024 is sending a strong signal to the world about the importance of ambitious and inclusive climate action. It is a signal of leadership that the city, where the Paris Agreement on Climate Change was adopted in 2015, is now also hosting the first ever climate positive Olympic Games. If we are to reach the goals of the Paris agreement and avoid the worst impact of climate change, we have only  ten years left to reduce global emissions by 50%. Today, the Paris 2024 Board of Directors has shown that the spirit from 2015 is still alive and well: We must, we can, and we will be successful in the fight against climate change. We welcome this announcement and congratulate Paris 2024!“

CONTRIBUTING TO THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Board of Directors has also renewed its convention with the association Les Canaux, to accompany Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) structures so they can offer their services for the Games.--------------------------------------------------------------- In the current context of the COVID-19 crisis, Paris 2024 Games will be a boost to the French economy, particularly for VSE/SMEs and SSE structures. Out of more than 500 tenders launched, 113 services were entrusted to SSE´s. They represent 60% of the companies that responded to the tenders for The Pulse, the new Paris 2024 headquarters. As 90% of the tenders for the Games have yet to be awarded, and with many more expected to be launched in 2021 together with SOLIDEO (catering, cleaning and waste management of the Village, etc“¦), SSE´s will have even more opportunities to contribute to Paris 2024. TWO APPOINTMENTS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Board of Directors has also made two appointments during today´s meeting. Due to the withdrawal of the current President for personal reasons, the chairmanship of the Audit Committee has been entrusted to Mr. Jacques LAMBERT, who was already a member of the Committee. As a former prefect, Mr. LAMBERT chaired the organisation of the 2016 UEFA European Football Championship in France from February 2011, after having headed up the French Football Federation from 2005 to 2010.----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mr. Ryadh SALLEM has been appointed member of the Board of Directors of Paris 2024. As a Paris 2024 ambassador, Paralympic athlete (swimming, wheelchair basketball and wheelchair rugby) and entrepreneur of a SSE, he is involved in a number of sports and solidarity organisations fighting against all forms of discrimination, including disability.-------------------  Finally, Tony ESTANGUET acknowledged Denis MASSEGLIA, who was attending his last board meeting as president of the French Olympic Committee (CNOSF), and thanked him for his continuous commitment to the Paris 2024 adventure since the bid. The members of the Board praised Mr. MASSEGLIA´s career and his constant support for the sports movement and its stakeholders. Source: Paris 2024 Olympic Commitee