Paris is aiming for the most sustainable Olympics yet. Organizers acknowledge the plan isn’t perfect
By JOHN LEICESTER and PETER PRENGAMAN
Associated Press
PARIS (AP) — Organizers of the Paris Olympics have set ambitious goals for environmental sustainability. They aim to reduce the Olympics’ overall carbon footprint by half compared with the 2012 London and 2016 Rio Games. Organizers say they’ll slash carbon emissions by building as little as possible, instead using existing or temporary venues for most sports. They’re favoring local and meat-free foods. And they’re using 100% renewable energy. They say they took sustainability into account early in their planning. Some experts say they’re planning well, as businesses would for emissions. But the plans also face questions about some carbon-intensive sponsors and doubts about their long-term future in a warming world facing a growing climate crisis.