The Times Australia
The Times World News

.

As the Paris Olympics try to go green, NZ sports bodies are stuck in the starting blocks

  • Written by Chris McMillan, Professional Teaching Fellow in Sociology, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau
As the Paris Olympics try to go green, NZ sports bodies are stuck in the starting blocks

It’s one thing to aspire to be the “greenest games in history”, quite another to achieve it. While the Paris Olympics are responding to the threat to sport from the climate crisis, they also highlight the contradictions inherent in making global sport a platform for climate action.

Average temperatures in Paris[1] are set to be 2.4–2.7°C higher than in 1924 when the city last hosted the games. Although the possibility of an extreme heatwave worried organisers, so far they’ve mostly contended with soggy skies and flood warnings[2].

But while the spotlight is on Paris[3], the impacts of climate change – higher temperatures, changes in rainfall patterns and extreme weather events – are already hitting[4] the wider sporting world.

In Aotearoa New Zealand, the effects of climate change on sport are already evident[5]. During the 2022–23 cricket season, for example, half of all recreational games[6] were washed out in some areas. The future of snow sports is particularly uncertain[7] as winter temperatures rise.

But sport is not an innocent victim in all this. The sports industry, and mega-events such as the Olympics in particular, have a substantial carbon footprint[8], and are showing few signs of scaling back their operations.

Swimming in the Seine – part of the Olympics’ promise to ‘supercharge’ the greening of Paris. Getty Images

Sustainable sport

To be fair, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) adopted ideas of sustainability relatively early. In 1994, “environment” joined “sport” and “culture” as the third pillar of the Olympic movement.

And in 1996, the Olympic Charter[9] was amended to include concern for the environment. Cities vying to host the games are also required to address environmental issues.

As a result, sustainability has become an essential part of Olympic hosting bids. Paris has taken this to a new level, with organisers promising[10] to halve the carbon footprint of the London and Rio de Janeiro games.

This emphasis on “climate positivity[11]”, they say, will also “supercharge” green initiatives in the city, make Paris 2024 the “greenest games in history[12]”, and show “another model is possible”.

Other sporting organisations have followed the IOC’s lead. Of the 36 Summer Olympic sports federations, 17 have a sustainability strategy[13], and 23 have signed the United Nations Sports for Climate Action framework[14], which commits signatories to halve their emissions by 2030 and aim to reach net zero by 2040.

Extra challenges for New Zealand

Sporting organisations in Aotearoa New Zealand, however, have barely got off the environmental starting line.

The New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) does not have a sustainability strategy. Moreover, of the 56 member federations identified[15] by NZOC, only Yachting New Zealand[16] and Golf New Zealand[17] have their own sustainability strategies.

Notably, although Yachting New Zealand’s strategy is well developed, neither attempts to quantify their carbon footprint or address the impact of travel.

Equally, just ten member organisations even mention environmental sustainability in their latest strategic plans. The situation is similar among non-Olympic professional sporting organisations and leagues. Neither the New Zealand Warriors nor the Wellington Phoenix, for example, have published sustainability strategies, although the New Zealand Breakers have detailed a commitment to a “thriving environment[18]”.

Realistically, genuine environmental action is difficult for New Zealand sport. Given the county’s geographical location, teams and competitors have no option but to travel long distances, as do visitors wanting to compete here.

Indeed, New Zealand’s remoteness means our per-capita emissions from air travel are the sixth highest in the world[19], and even travelling regularly to compete in Australian leagues produces a substantial carbon footprint[20].

Sport New Zealand has shown a willingness to drive this kind of action, sponsoring an environmental sustainability award[21]. But reducing travel and international competition would have obvious repercussions. Perhaps tellingly, the commonest reference to “sustainability” by New Zealand sporting organisations is in a financial context, not an environmental one.

Another model?

These practical challenges to implementing noble goals have seen the sustainability in sport movement accused of “greenwashing gold[22]”. And the Paris Olympics have been criticised[23] for a “lack of transparency and precision” in measuring and reporting on their green goals.

Previous Olympics have also demonstrated that pledges and visions are not the same as outcomes, with environmental initiatives poorly monitored[24] overall. The environmental and climate impacts of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics[25] and 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar[26] show how far mega-sport has to go.

Indeed, the Paris games will still produce 1.5 million tonnes of carbon[27] – roughly comparable to Fiji’s entire annual emissions, with around half coming from international travel.

There have even been calls to halt the Olympics, or at least reduce their size[28], due to the climate crisis. Like global sport in general, the games are caught in the same tension between ecological sustainability and economic growth that hinders all attempts to combat climate change.

If commercial sport continues to encourage mass international travel from spectators and participants, as well as expanding fixtures and events in search of ever larger media audiences, its environmental initiatives will always fall short.

This may be especially true for a small, remote country like New Zealand. The claim by Paris that “another model is possible” might turn out to have a very different meaning than intended.

References

  1. ^ Average temperatures in Paris (www.climatecentral.org)
  2. ^ flood warnings (apnews.com)
  3. ^ spotlight is on Paris (theconversation.com)
  4. ^ already hitting (theconversation.com)
  5. ^ already evident (sportnz.org.nz)
  6. ^ half of all recreational games (www.nzc.nz)
  7. ^ uncertain (www.rnz.co.nz)
  8. ^ substantial carbon footprint (rapidtransition.org)
  9. ^ Olympic Charter (stillmed.olympic.org)
  10. ^ organisers promising (olympics.com)
  11. ^ climate positivity (olympics.com)
  12. ^ greenest games in history (www.theguardian.com)
  13. ^ 17 have a sustainability strategy (www.sportecology.org)
  14. ^ United Nations Sports for Climate Action framework (unfccc.int)
  15. ^ identified (olympic.org.nz)
  16. ^ Yachting New Zealand (www.yachtingnz.org.nz)
  17. ^ Golf New Zealand (www.golf.co.nz)
  18. ^ thriving environment (www.nzbreakers.basketball)
  19. ^ the sixth highest in the world (theconversation.com)
  20. ^ substantial carbon footprint (theconversation.com)
  21. ^ environmental sustainability award (enter.sportandrecreationawards.nz)
  22. ^ greenwashing gold (www.nature.com)
  23. ^ have been criticised (www.scientificamerican.com)
  24. ^ poorly monitored (theconversation.com)
  25. ^ Sochi Winter Olympics (theconversation.com)
  26. ^ Qatar (www.scientificamerican.com)
  27. ^ 1.5 million tonnes of carbon (www.economist.com)
  28. ^ reduce their size (www.nytimes.com)

Read more https://theconversation.com/as-the-paris-olympics-try-to-go-green-nz-sports-bodies-are-stuck-in-the-starting-blocks-235094

Times Magazine

Headless CMS in Digital Twins and 3D Product Experiences

Image by freepik As the metaverse becomes more advanced and accessible, it's clear that multiple sectors will use digital twins and 3D product experiences to visualize, connect, and streamline efforts better. A digital twin is a virtual replica of ...

The Decline of Hyper-Casual: How Mid-Core Mobile Games Took Over in 2025

In recent years, the mobile gaming landscape has undergone a significant transformation, with mid-core mobile games emerging as the dominant force in app stores by 2025. This shift is underpinned by changing user habits and evolving monetization tr...

Understanding ITIL 4 and PRINCE2 Project Management Synergy

Key Highlights ITIL 4 focuses on IT service management, emphasising continual improvement and value creation through modern digital transformation approaches. PRINCE2 project management supports systematic planning and execution of projects wit...

What AI Adoption Means for the Future of Workplace Risk Management

Image by freepik As industrial operations become more complex and fast-paced, the risks faced by workers and employers alike continue to grow. Traditional safety models—reliant on manual oversight, reactive investigations, and standardised checklist...

From Beach Bops to Alpine Anthems: Your Sonos Survival Guide for a Long Weekend Escape

Alright, fellow adventurers and relaxation enthusiasts! So, you've packed your bags, charged your devices, and mentally prepared for that glorious King's Birthday long weekend. But hold on, are you really ready? Because a true long weekend warrior kn...

Effective Commercial Pest Control Solutions for a Safer Workplace

Keeping a workplace clean, safe, and free from pests is essential for maintaining productivity, protecting employee health, and upholding a company's reputation. Pests pose health risks, can cause structural damage, and can lead to serious legal an...

The Times Features

Tricia Paoluccio designer to the stars

The Case for Nuturing Creativity in the Classroom, and in our Lives I am an actress and an artist who has had the privilege of sharing my work across many countries, touring my ...

Duke of Dural to Get Rooftop Bar as New Owners Invest in Venue Upgrade

The Duke of Dural, in Sydney’s north-west, is set for a major uplift under new ownership, following its acquisition by hospitality group Good Beer Company this week. Led by resp...

Prefab’s Second Life: Why Australia’s Backyard Boom Needs a Circular Makeover

The humble granny flat is being reimagined not just as a fix for housing shortages, but as a cornerstone of circular, factory-built architecture. But are our systems ready to s...

Melbourne’s Burglary Boom: Break-Ins Surge Nearly 25%

Victorian homeowners are being warned to act now, as rising break-ins and falling arrest rates paint a worrying picture for suburban safety. Melbourne residents are facing an ...

Exploring the Curriculum at a Modern Junior School in Melbourne

Key Highlights The curriculum at junior schools emphasises whole-person development, catering to children’s physical, emotional, and intellectual needs. It ensures early year...

Distressed by all the bad news? Here’s how to stay informed but still look after yourself

If you’re feeling like the news is particularly bad at the moment, you’re not alone. But many of us can’t look away – and don’t want to. Engaging with news can help us make ...