Cheering climate action at the Paris Olympics

OPINION:

The guiding concept of the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics, which commenced with the opening ceremony on July 26, is “low-carbon and eco-friendly.” It’s a theme all humanity should root for.

The Paris 2024 Organizing Committee announced that the proportion of vegetarian meals served to athletes and spectators would be doubled compared to past  Olympics to reduce carbon emissions. In line with the eco-friendly theme, the committee has also decided not to install air conditioning in the athletes’ village. Despite concerns about the athletes’ living conditions, the organization has been very inflexible in its “no air conditioning” principle. 

However, they missed one thing from this low-carbon and eco-friendly Olympics: An action plan for people to participate in. 

The climate crisis is the most important and urgent challenge we human beings must overcome together. The World Economic Forum (WEF) has identified “extreme weather due to climate change” as this year’s biggest global risk via its “Global Risk Report 2024,” released last January. There are forecasts suggesting that 2024 will surpass last year as the hottest year on record. Addressing the climate crisis is no longer a choice — but a necessity — for people worldwide. 

Korea Agro-Fisheries and Food Trade Corporation (aT) is a government agency of the Republic of Korea. Its roles include domestic supply and demand for food production, export, supply-chain management and food industry improvement. Since 2021, aT has been promoting the “low-carbon diet” lifestyle movement in the Republic of Korea in response to the climate crisis. 

The movement involves creating a diet with eco-friendly agricultural and fishery products that reduce carbon emissions, minimize food waste and reduce carbon emissions resulting from the production, distribution, processing and disposal of food. 

This initiative is based on scientific evidence from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report, which clarifies that the cause of climate change is “human.” Humanity must act to solve the climate crisis because humans are its fundamental cause. Given that 31% of greenhouse gas emissions originate in the food sector, reducing carbon emissions in this area is crucial. 

The low-carbon diet movement aims to change human behavior, empower consumers to influence suppliers and promote human health. Anyone can start practicing it in their daily lives immediately, regardless of nationality or language. 

Currently, there are 700 institutions from 46 countries participating in the low-carbon diet movement, including global corporations such as Amazon, Alibaba, and Carrefour, as well as governmental entities in the United States and Liberia in Africa. In the Washington, D.C. area, Fairfax County, in particular, has declared Dec. 7 as “Low-Carbon Diet Day” and encourages the practice of a low-carbon diet in daily life. This campaign began in the Republic of Korea and has spread worldwide over the past three years. 

Now, we need to develop a broader carbon-conscious solidarity because humanity is, in essence, one nation living in the shared home of Earth. During the Olympic games, we can be “one team” as global citizens beyond race, nation and continent. It is the best opportunity to promote the low-carbon diet movement around the world. Paris 2024 Olympics, focused on “low-carbon and eco-friendly” principles, can enhance its identity and trigger a turning point in addressing the climate crisis. 

The 2024 Summer Olympics are the first Olympic games to be held in Paris in 100 years. While the Olympics have grown with more participating countries and games, the Earth has become sick. During the past century, temperatures in France have risen by 1.66 degrees Celsius, and carbon emissions have increased by 1.8 times. It is projected that temperatures could rise by 3.8 degrees Celsius by  2100. There is growing concern that the Summer Olympics, held annually, may no longer be feasible during the summer because of global warming. 

Before worrying about future Olympics, though, we must consider the survival of humanity. 

Take an opportunity to join the low-carbon diet movement during 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. If the whole world were to become one team, we could  surely overcome the climate crisis. If we all act together like the five interconnected rings of the Olympic symbol that represent global unity, we can change the future before it’s too late.

In 2021, the International Olympic Committee approved a change in the Olympic motto that recognizes the importance of solidarity. With this in mind, the traditional Olympic motto should be modernized to read:  “Faster, Higher, Stronger and Together.” Let’s unite and take climate action for our one and only Earth. The future depends on what we do today.

• Kim Choon-Jin is president of Korea Agro-Fisheries and Food Trade Commission. He holds Ph.D. in the School of Public Healt, Inje U. and a former member of the Korean National Assembly.