Towards Decarbonisation: Reducing Emissions From Transport in Olympic Host Cities

ABSTRACT Climate change mitigation is urgent, especially in cities where transport systems are major sources of greenhouse gas emissions. Decarbonising transport systems is vital to achieving net‐zero emissions by 2050 and meeting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Staging mega‐events, such as the Olympic and Paralympic Games, simultaneously creates significant environmental impacts and opportunities for change in host cities, particularly in the transport sector. This review addresses a research gap in mega‐event urban transport planning by investigating decarbonisation efforts related to the Games. This is crucial given transport's central role in host city planning and the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) environmental commitments to halve Games‐related emissions by 2030. Implementing effective transport strategies for the Games is essential for achieving IOC targets and mitigating climate change. While heightened travel demand during the Games can increase emissions, hosting the event can catalyze the adoption of strategic interventions such as investments in public transport, active mobility infrastructure, and cleaner technologies, alongside governance measures like traffic restrictions and emission regulations. However, high car dependency, inadequate public transport, and fragmented planning in host cities pose persistent challenges. This review identifies the need for a deeper focus on decarbonisation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and comprehensive assessment frameworks to evaluate transport interventions across all event phases. It also highlights the importance of enabling stakeholders to adopt reproducible best‐practice frameworks for planning future mega‐events. Overall, the study provides a clear pathway for stakeholders to leverage the Games to advance sustainable urban mobility transitions and deliver long‐term low‐carbon legacies. This article is categorized under: The Carbon Economy and Climate Mitigation > Policies, Instruments, Lifestyles, Behavior Climate and Development > Urbanization, Development, and Climate Change