When cities host large-scale events that draw global crowds, the carbon emissions from constructing new buildings and updating old infrastructure can be staggering.

Paris is the latest city to highlight sustainability as it hosts the world’s biggest sporting event

In Paris, as the world’s top athletes go for gold in front of the cameras, the organizers are aiming high behind-the-scenes. The event infrastructure is designed to champion low carbon approaches across construction, transport and operations and highlight the potential of sustainable development.

“Large-scale projects can consume immense resources and leave a negative lasting legacy in terms of their carbon footprint unless they’re designed with sustainability in mind from the start,” says Juliette Medana, Head of Sustainability Consulting – EMEA at JLL.

“A sustainable approach addresses the urgent challenge of reducing emissions from existing buildings and minimizing the environmental impact of new construction. Furthermore, it must be holistic, encompassing the environment, mobility, equity and the economy. This summer, Paris has a great opportunity to showcase how a resilient, sustainable, and future-ready city can be developed.”

Focusing on reuse and repurposing

In Paris, 95% of the event infrastructure is temporary or already exists – and will be powered by 100% renewable energy during the event.

Just two permanent structures – the athletes’ accommodation and the aquatic centre – are new, using wood as the primary material. Low-carbon cement and salvaged materials will also help cut emissions by 30% compared to traditional construction.

“Embodied carbon is a significant concern with new construction. In Paris the focus is on embedding circular economy principles, adopting low carbon construction techniques and repurposing structures for future use, which is critical to limit the emissions from development and drive social benefit,” says Medana.

Like in London in 2012 or Vancouver in 2010, having a longer-term strategy for reusing or repurposing buildings is also important to making a positive environmental and social impact. Vancouver’s energy-efficient athlete village was repurposed as mixed-use community space with a district energy system recovering heat from wastewater.

In Paris, the aquatic centre will remain a permanent structure while the athletes’ accommodation will be repurposed into housing and office space as part of a mixed-use development. The design also promotes nature and biodiversity to protect against urban heat islands and the impact of climate change.

Social impact is another priority. Once the athletes have left, a quarter of residences will be designated as public housing and another third as affordable housing. Plans for restaurants, shops and leisure aim to revitalize the local community and provide more job opportunities in an area with a 20% unemployment rate.

Gold-standard sustainability shift

It doesn’t always take a huge sporting event to support sustainable development. More large-scale projects are prioritizing sustainability amid rising societal awareness, rapidly evolving regulations and government incentives.

“There is a greater push towards sustainable development, especially in offices and the life sciences sector,” says Janika McFeely, VP, Climate and Decarbonisation Practice Co-Lead, North America at JLL.

“Funding opportunities through policies like the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) are making it more feasible for developments to integrate sustainable technologies like solar and geothermal energy.”

New York’s Hudson Yards highlights low impact building alongside a huge stormwater recycling systems and green spaces designed to support local biodiversity. In London, British Land’s redevelopment of Canada Water features an all-electric energy strategy, BREEAM certified office and retail space and cement-free concrete along with social impact initiatives.

In Australia, Bangaroo is a carbon-neutral district with a cooling plant that pumps water from Sydney Harbour to absorb waste heat from buildings, before returning it to the harbour.

“What you're able to accomplish at scale in terms of district solutions for energy, for example, is really exciting,” says McFeely. “Large projects also have the advantage of longer construction timelines and storage space to leverage circular approaches like recycling material waste for on-site reuse.”

Social impact is also becoming a bigger consideration as policies including the IRA and the European Green Deal encourage measures such as preserving biodiversity and benefiting communities through jobs creation and affordable housing.

"The conscious developer looks at what’s already at a site and aims to improve rather than replace. Biodiversity and community benefits, for example, are considered integral to the success of the project,” says McFeely.

Economies of scale improve feasibility

Even with greater awareness and interest supporting sustainable development, many projects – especially smaller ones - still face significant hurdles.

“Administrative processes for developing projects can be lengthy. It’s where the prospect of major events can help to simplify and expedite approvals, for example, to repurpose buildings,” says Medana. “Plus with organizers wanting to make a statement, it’s a unique opportunity to pilot sustainable development approaches.”

In Paris, the Games’ organizers hope the design and construction principles can drive the low-carbon transformation of France’s construction industry. For example, the aquatic centre comprises 30-40% wood grown in the country, supporting progress towards France’s ambitious target for 50% of construction timber to be locally sourced.

“Adopting new building practices needs a coordinated holistic approach while navigating tight deadlines and regulatory approvals. Well-intentioned policy solutions can sometimes create barriers to innovation,” says McFeely.

The availability of eco-friendly materials can also be a challenge, adds Medana. Sustainable wood, for example, comes from forests that need time to grow, while the footprint of eco-friendly timber increases significantly when transported over long distances.

“We need to establish new supply chains for sustainable materials and transportation at scale. This is a progressive change that is happening, but it takes time,” says Medana. “Regulatory pressure, financial incentives, and collaboration across value chains can drive the change that’s needed for real estate to meet climate targets.”

For now, sustainable development is still a work in progress, but high-visibility events that show what’s possible and deliver clear environmental and social benefits can encourage a new generation of projects to hit higher standards.