02 Aug How Climate Change Has Altered Paris as an Olympic City

As the world watches the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, we reflect on how climate change has transformed the city and the games. The Paris Olympics of 1924 took place in a cooler, more stable climate. Today, rising temperatures and extreme weather events are major challenges for athletes, spectators, and infrastructure. Over the past 100 years, Paris has warmed significantly. During the Olympics, average temperatures have increased by about 3.2°F. This warming, along with more frequent and intense heat waves, poses new risks and logistical challenges for hosting the event. These extreme heat events are not just uncomfortable; they present serious health risks.

These changes impact not only athletic performances but also raise questions about the sustainability of outdoor sports. Athletes face higher risks of heat-related illnesses, and organisers must adapt to ensure safety and performance. Measures like early morning events, shaded areas, and water stations are now crucial. As we explore how climate change has reshaped Paris as an Olympic city, the effects on the games and future sporting events become clear.

The Green Games: Sustainability Efforts at Paris 2024

The 2024 Paris Olympics have been touted as the “most sustainable Olympics ever.” This ambitious goal reflects the organisers’ commitment to reducing the environmental impact of the games. The Paris 2024 organising committee has pledged to host the Olympics with half of the average carbon emissions recorded since the 2012 London Games. This target is set at 1.75 million tonnes of CO2, a significant reduction from the 3.5 million tonnes typically associated with the event.

To achieve this, Paris has adopted a “reduce, repurpose, and reuse” strategy. Approximately 95% of the venues for the 2024 Olympics are pre-existing, significantly cutting down the need for new construction. The few new structures, like the Aquatics Centre in Saint-Denis, have been designed with sustainability in mind. The use of 100% renewable energy, primarily from wind and solar sources, is another cornerstone of the sustainability plan.

The Olympic Village will be transformed into public housing post-Games, ensuring that the infrastructure benefits the community long after the event. Furthermore, the emphasis on public transport and the inclusion of plant-based meals at venues are steps aimed at reducing the carbon footprint of the Games.

A Century of Rising Heat: The New Olympic Reality

When Paris last hosted the Olympics in 1924, the city experienced milder summers compared to today’s scorching temperatures. Historical data reveals that the average temperature during the 1924 Olympics was around 75°F, whereas projections for the 2024 games indicate average temperatures of 80.5°F. This increase may seem modest at first glance, but the frequency of extreme heat days has skyrocketed. From 2014 to 2023, Paris recorded 188 days with temperatures soaring above 86°F, nearly three times the 69 such days recorded between 1924 and 1933.

The phenomenon of sweltering nights, where temperatures do not drop below 68°F, has also become alarmingly common. In the decade from 1924 to 1933, Paris experienced only four sweltering nights, but from 2014 to 2023, this number surged to 84. These rising nighttime temperatures exacerbate heat stress on athletes and spectators, making recovery from the day’s heat more difficult and increasing the risk of heat-related illnesses.

Heat Risks for Athletes: Performance and Safety Challenges

Extreme heat poses significant risks to athletes, affecting their health, safety, and performance. During the Tokyo 2021 Olympics, which were the hottest on record, 146 heat-related illnesses were reported among Olympic and Paralympic athletes. Similar concerns loom over the Paris 2024 Games. In hot and humid conditions, the body’s ability to cool itself through sweating is compromised, leading to potential heat cramps, heat exhaustion, or even life-threatening heat strokes.

The physiological stress of competing in high temperatures can degrade performance. For instance, endurance events like marathons or long-distance cycling see a notable decline in performance with rising temperatures. Research indicates that for every 1.8°F increase in temperature above 59°F, marathon performance can drop by about one minute. This decline is attributed to the body’s increased effort to regulate its internal temperature, diverting energy from muscular work.

Additionally, extreme heat impacts cognitive functions essential for sports requiring precision and strategic thinking, such as archery and shooting. Athletes might experience reduced concentration, increased irritability, and impaired decision-making, which could be decisive in events where margins of error are minimal.

Urban Heat Island Effect: The Challenge for Paris

Paris, like many other major cities, suffers from the urban heat island effect, where concrete and asphalt absorb and re-radiate heat, causing urban areas to be significantly warmer than their rural surroundings. This effect intensifies during heatwaves, making the city particularly inhospitable during summer.

To mitigate these effects, the Paris Olympic Committee has implemented several measures. Events such as the marathon and triathlon are scheduled for early mornings when temperatures are cooler. Athletes have access to water stations and shaded areas along the routes. The Olympic Village, though controversially lacking traditional air conditioning to reduce carbon footprint, will utilise a geothermal system to maintain cooler indoor temperatures. Over 9,000 trees have been planted to provide natural cooling, and the “natural freshness” of the River Seine will help regulate the city’s temperature.

Parisian air improved over the past two decades as Paris moved away from fossil fuels and curbed car use

A Sustainable Future: Lessons and Actions

The adaptation measures for the 2024 Paris Olympics reflect a broader recognition of the need for sustainability in major sporting events. However, the increasing frequency of extreme weather events due to climate change raises critical questions about the future of outdoor sports. If current warming trends continue, the viability of hosting summer games in traditionally temperate cities could be jeopardised.

The challenges faced by Paris highlight the urgency for more aggressive climate action. Global CO2 levels have risen by nearly 40% since 1924, from 305 parts per million to 419 parts per million. This increase in greenhouse gases is a primary driver of the warming climate. The 2003 heatwave in France, which caused 14,800 excess deaths, underscored the lethal potential of unchecked climate change.

Athletes and organisers are increasingly aware of these risks. Training now includes acclimatisation to high temperatures, and some teams plan to bring their own cooling solutions to the Olympic Village. However, these individual measures are not sufficient to counteract the broader environmental trends. Ensuring the future of the Olympics, and outdoor sports in general, will require comprehensive global efforts to reduce emissions and mitigate climate change.

Chart showing global CO2 levels increase by almost 40% since 1924

Critics and Future Outlook: Can We Do More?

Despite the ambitious sustainability goals, some critics argue that more could be done. They point out that even with reduced emissions, the sheer scale of the Olympics—drawing millions of people to one location—remains environmentally intensive. Critics also highlight that some of the sponsors of the Games are companies with high carbon footprints, which seems contradictory to the sustainability goals.

Nevertheless, the Paris 2024 Olympics represent a significant effort towards more sustainable large-scale events. The organisers acknowledge that while not everything will be perfect, the Games will push the boundaries of what is possible in terms of sustainability. The long-term outlook for such events will depend on continued innovation and commitment to reducing environmental impacts.

Act Now for a Sustainable Future

The transformation of Paris as an Olympic city over the past century vividly illustrates the profound impact of climate change. Rising temperatures, more frequent heat waves, and the urban heat island effect present significant challenges for athletes, organisers, and spectators. While the 2024 Paris Olympics have implemented innovative measures to address these issues, the broader implications of climate change necessitate urgent and sustained action on a global scale. As we celebrate the spirit of the Olympics and the resilience of athletes, it is crucial to recognize the underlying environmental changes that threaten the future of such events. The story of Paris as an Olympic city serves as a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of sports and the environment, and the imperative to safeguard our planet for future generations.

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