Paris showed the world how to host an environmentally friendly Summer Olympics in 2024. Los Angeles has vowed to do even better at the 2028 Summer Games. “Everyone wants to win, including on sustainability,” Becky Dale told Forbes. She is the Vice President of Sustainability for Los Angeles 2028. “You want to up the ante.” The Paris Games set a modern record. It reduced the amount of greenhouse gases released by 54.6% compared to recent Olympics. To beat that mark, Los Angeles has detailed a three-point plan to guide their approach. Radical Reuse: The city has vowed not to build any new structures. Los Angeles has hosted major sporting events and the Academy Awards. The city feels it has all the venue space it will need. It also plans to recycle 90% of any temporary materials it uses. Resilience: Los Angeles plans to improve its energy grid over the next three years. It will rely on renewable energy. It plans to power the entire 30 days of the games using only solar, wind, and hydroelectric sources. Natural Resource Stewardship: The city has launched a review of the ecosystems of every Games venue within a 35-mile radius. That includes rivers and beaches. Planners aim to protect those habitats even as athletes compete in them. They also plan to restore many. That could involve tree plantings, cleanup efforts, and awareness campaigns. Reflect: If you were in charge of planning a huge world event, how would you make it exciting while also helping the planet? Gif of Olympic rings from GIPHY.
