Event sustainability standard updated for Paris 2024

The revised version calls for more emphasis on legacy, human rights, and compliance.

The newly revised ISO 20121: 2014 has been launched ahead of the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
The newly revised ISO 20121: 2014 has been launched ahead of the Olympic Games Paris 2024. Photo Credit: Adobe Stock/korkeng

A revised version of ISO 20121 has been published ahead of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 – centred around sustainable event management, the newly updated standard features more focus on legacy, human rights, and compliance.

The newly updated version – which will be applied by the Olympic Games Paris 2024 organising committee – will be called ISO 20121: 2014 and replaces the old version.

First introduced by the organising committee for the Olympic Games London 2012, ISO 20121 has been used as a model and metric for organisations that aim to produce sustainable events.

12 years on, the standard has become one of the sustainability requirements for every Olympic Games since London and is also increasingly used by major sports and other event organisers.

Fiona Pelham, head of Positive Impact Events, and chair of the project committee for the revision of ISO20121, said: “ISO standards are recognised by government and business as a tool to shape policy and strategy.

The revision of ISO20121:2024 increases focus on climate change, human rights and legacy when planning and delivering an event. At a time when regulations on greenwashing are increasing, ISO 20121:2024 is the only credible way forward.”