3 October, 2025

The quest for Olympic gold is evolving. Now it’s a race to create the most sustainable Games in history. The Los Angeles 2028 committee has pledged to improve further on the carbon reductions of the 2024 Paris Games, producing an additional 10% reduction in the games’ carbon footprint compared to Paris, according to a sustainability plan released this summer. Becky Dale, Vice President of Sustainability for LA28, captures this spirit well: “everyone wants to win, including on sustainability.” 

LA28’s approach is notably ambitious, and deliberately so. The Games will be held without building any new permanent venues, a remarkable decision that harkens back to the 1948 London Olympics. By relying on existing world-class facilities, LA minimizes the carbon footprint that new construction usually brings. Further, they aim to reuse or recycle 90% of temporary materials, power venues with 100% renewable electricity, and prioritize transit to reduce reliance on private cars (no doubt a relief to the residents of LA, where traffic is already a serious problem). 

Yet, this ambition faces serious challenges. A major hurdle is managing indirect emissions from global travel, supply chains, and tourism—which are complex to measure and reduce, particularly given the scale of the Games. On top of this, the political climate poses significant risks: with President Trump’s administration continuing to roll back environmental regulations and withdraw support for climate initiatives, the broader policy environment is far from supportive.   

While LA28’s sustainability vision is inspiring and sets a high bar, getting it right will involve navigating many hurdles. This makes the Games a powerful test case, at the intersection of aspiration and the tough political realities of its host country.  

By Emma Alajarin