1.PARIS, AN ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY CITY
2.CHARTER FOR ECO-FRIENDLY EVENTS IN PARIS
3.THREE MAJOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS FOR A SUSTAINABLE PARIS
Choosing Paris means opting for a destination with one of the densest and most efficient public transport networks in the world. From the city’s airports or train stations to your accommodation, from your accommodation to event venues, from event venues to restaurants ..., the network makes it possible to get everywhere in Paris and the Parisian conurbation and is an efficient and ecological alternative to the individual vehicle.
Aside from the subject of public transport, the City of Paris is actively engaged in climate protection, the quality of the environment and water, biodiversity, the personal development of all citizens, social cohesion and solidarity between local areas and generations, as well as responsible modes of production and consumption. To do this, many initiatives are being undertaken.
In the fight against global warming, the involvement of City Hall and the signatories of the Paris Climate Action Charter has already resulted in a 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in Paris between 2004 and 2018, with the objective of carbon neutrality for 2050. Regarding the adaptation of the City to climate change, some 1,100 ‘îlots de fraîcheur’ (cool spots) help people in Paris to cope better with the increasingly regular heat waves during the summer season. These cool spots are welcoming, restful places, accessible to the general public and recognized as a source of refreshment with regard to their immediate environment in hot or very hot periods. These are squares, gardens, parks, woods, cemeteries, bathing places, and places with misters, churches, museums, libraries, …
In order to combat air and noise pollution and to improve the overall quality of the environment in Paris, many actions have been taken to encourage walking and cycling. The Seine riverbanks were redeveloped for pedestrians and users of non-motorized forms of transport, in 2012 on the right bank and in 2016 on the left bank. Also, the total cyclable network in the capital increased from 200 km in 2001 to 1,094 km in 2021. The City is accelerating its actions to make Paris more breathable and less noisy.
With a view to promoting biodiversity in Paris and leaving more space for pedestrians and visitors to stroll,15 hectares of urban agriculture and 15 hectares of parks and gardens, were created between 2014 and 2018. This greening of Paris and its benefits are widely applauded by Parisians. Proof of this, in the framework of the City's ‘participatory budget’, 25% of which is allocated to climate action, more than 3,000 projects carried out between 2014 and 2022 involve the greening of walls, streets and squares, as well as the installation of planters, beehives and composters.
The City also promotes responsible means of production, consumption, and the circular economy. In 2017, for example, the City created the label « Fabriqué à Paris » (‘Made in Paris’) to promote locally produced products and Parisian artisanal products to the general public. It is therefore possible to shop in Paris, choosing products made in the capital, whether they be artisan food products, furniture, decorative objects, clothing, or fashion accessories, etc.
The social aspect of sustainable development is taken into account in the City's actions, and there are numerous measures to strengthen social cohesion and solidarity between areas and between generations. The aim is to make Paris a capital where everyone feels at ease, regardless of age, origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, or religious affiliation …
More and more professionals in the tourist and events industry are integrating sustainability into their daily practices and processes. From transport to accommodation, catering and entertainment, Paris and the Paris region are full of committed service providers who are keen to adapt to the challenges of today. See our selection of service providers who have chosen to act!
Find out more about the City of Paris’s commitments and actions in favour of sustainable development:
> Paris.fr / Le développement durable à Paris (in French)
As part of its measures to promote sustainable development and combat climate change, the City of Paris has established the Charter for Eco-friendly events to encourage and help event planners to reduce the environmental footprint of their events. The Charter is based on 8 objectives, split into 2 themes:
Eco-designing the event
Eco-communication and raising public awareness
This charter is also a useful promotional tool as the City of Paris acts as a relay for eco-friendly events.
Find out more about the Charter for Eco-friendly Events:
> Paris.fr / Charte des événements écoresponsables (in French)
The prospect of hosting the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games has enabled many innovative development projects to gather pace, to offer visitors and Parisians alike new ways of enjoying the city in the near future.
Everything possible is being done to make Paris a sustainable 21st century city. Pedestrianization of main roads, planted walkways, environmentally friendly transport - the capital goes all out when it comes to developing a greener and more welcoming city. Discover three projects that are about to transform the City of Light.
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For the capital, 2024 will by an Olympic year but also a year geared towards sustainable development. One of the most impressive projects will be the planned creation of a vast garden linking Trocadero to the Eiffel Tower. The aim? To provide a greener, more seamless, and more enjoyable experience for the millions of people who visit the site each year. From Trocadero to the Champ-de-Mars and Ecole Militaire, the entire area will be redesigned and transformed to create a new green space for walkers and environmentally friendly transport. Priority will be given to pedestrians and significant importance will be given to public transport to facilitate the circulation of the 30 million annual visitors to the Eiffel Tower.
The ‘Great Eiffel Tower site’, a new green space in the heart of Paris, is intended to be a relaxing and green setting for the enjoyment of tourists, as well as Parisians, and families in particular.
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Again in the run up to the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the famous Place de la Concorde will get an impressive makeover, and after the Games, it will be the turn of the Avenue des Champs-Elysées.
This project will have two phases, beginning by the Place de la Concorde and finishing with the ‘world’s most famous avenue’ the Champs-Elysées, although this will happen after the city as hosted the 2024 summer Olympics. Named 'extraordinary garden' by Paris’s mayor Anne Hidalgo, this huge greening project will give pride of place to pedestrians, by halving the number of lanes for traffic on the Avenue des Champs-Elysées. The area around the Arc de Triomphe will also be redesigned and will be transformed according to the seasons into a garden, a skating rink, and even a beach!
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The Place de la Concorde will be partially pedestrianized, and there are plans to plant 360 trees there. The 24 hectares of gardens lining the Champs-Elysées will also be redesigned to create a huge green promenade in this area that is so popular with tourists. |
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Paris is crisscrossed with an ever-expanding network of cycle lanes. In 2020, temporary cycling lanes were created to limit overcrowding in public transport during the health crisis. In total 50 km of cycle lanes have been built in Paris and around one hundred kilometres of cycle lanes in the inner suburbs. These lanes will then be made permanent to extend the Parisian cycle network. The perfect opportunity to explore the capital from one end to the other while enjoying the outdoors!
In view of the congestion on roads and in public transport, 9 cycle lines (650 km) offering continuous, high-quality facilities will link the major centres of the Paris region: this is the project RER V – Réseau Express Régional Vélo, a regional bicycle network. Construction is planned in two phases, the project will first unveil five initial lines in 2024/2025, followed by four others between 2024 and 2030.
