The Legacy and Sustainability plan for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games — 104 HARNESSING SPORT TO COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE There is more to the environmental transformation than just technical solutions – it primarily involves our behaviour and value system. The Games unite 4 billion viewers, 13.5 million spectators, 15,000 athletes and 206 nations. The scale of the Games makes it a unique opportunity to align stakeholders and get a message across to billions of people. Paris 2024 therefore pledges to harness the Games, the largest sporting event in the world, to mobilise and encourage its ecosystem to take environmental action. We know we can count on the unifying momentum of the Games to encourage the entire Committee, the sporting movement, our stakeholders and our partner marketing companies to work alongside us. PARIS 2024 TEAMS UP WITH THE UNFCCC " SPORTS FOR CLIMATE ACTION " INITIATIVE AT THE COP24 At the 24th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP24), Paris 2024 announced it would join forces with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) ‘Sports for Climate Action’ initiative, which aims to encourage the world of sport to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions related to organising sports competitions. Participants in the initiative commit to adhere to five principles: 1. Promote greater environmental responsibility 2. Reduce the overall climate impact of sporting events 3. Educate for climate action 4. Promote sustainable and responsible consumption 5. Advocate for climate action through communication HARNESSING SPORT TO PROTECT BIODIVERSITY Similar to climate action, protecting biodiversity involves more than merely reducing or offsetting the environmental impacts of competition venues. Paris 2024 wants to make people aware of what biodiversity represents as a whole. The organisation of the Games must spearhead clear, comprehensive civic information and environmental regeneration. The fact that sport and biodiversity both contribute to people’s wellbeing makes this a particularly relevant commitment – they improve health and wellbeing and can bolster the resilience of regions and urban areas through developments rooted in the environmental landscape while supplying ecosystem goods. This commitment has been worked on since the bid stage alongside the move towards carbon neutrality. Paris 2024 therefore aims to: • help promote respect for biodiversity in professional and amateur sport; • harness sport, particularly outdoor sports, to mobilise people to protect and regenerate biodiversity.