Winter vacations: what is the carbon footprint of a day's skiing?

Winter vacations: what is the carbon footprint of a day's skiing?

29 Tuesday 2024
The winter vacations are fast approaching. Are you planning to go skiing in the mountains this time? Calculating the carbon footprint of a day on the slopes is essential to assess its impact, and to take simple steps to reduce it.

The importance of measuring your carbon footprint

At a time when the ecological transition is a major challenge, knowing how to reduce your carbon footprint is fast becoming an individual and collective responsibility. In Val Cenis , as throughout Haute Maurienne Vanoise,sustainable development is given pride of place in a number of ways.

By way of example, local products are favored, the natural heritage is carefully preserved, and car travel is done responsibly thanks to low Co2 emission solutions such as carpooling - and the Blablacar Daily project set up by the Communauté de communes de la Haute Maurienne Vanoise.

In addition, work has recently begun to install a short-circuit wood-fired boiler in the Val Cenis resort: this will gradually supply the fire station, the Communauté de communes building, the Tourist Office and the Laurent Gerra Auditorium. Laurent Gerra Auditorium.

Other nearby tourist resorts also benefit from local hydroelectricity. To take things further, the Tourist Office and the Communauté de communes organize workshops and events throughout the year to raise awareness of these practices, in summer and winter alike.

Winter vacations: the importance of measuring your carbon footprint

Things to consider

Assessing the carbon footprint of a day's skiing involves considering various elements. These include transportation to the resort, accommodation, food consumed on site, equipment rental, and activities carried out on the slopes. Each of these aspects contributes to the total carbon footprint. By being aware of these factors, holidaymakers can adopt more sustainable choices and minimize their environmental impact while enjoying their stay in the mountains.
Carbon footprint, 1 day of skiing
Carbon footprint: the example of Val Cenis

Carbon footprint: the example of Val Cenis

The Val Cenis resort has adapted to these concerns. Especially when you consider that the average carbon footprint of a day's skiing is equivalent to 48.9 kg of Co2 emissions*. It's not much, but we can do better!

With the ski area and its infrastructure having a carbon footprint of 3% and 17%* respectively of the total cost of a day's skiing, Val Cenis is committed to optimizing the energy consumption of its ski lifts. In particular, by taking advantage of peak demand to adjust the speed and energy consumption of the infrastructure proportionately, but also by recovering the heat produced by the equipment.

As for the flora and fauna, quiet zones and facilities have also been set up to protect the black grouse and other birds, emblematic animals of the region. Finally, even the snow groomers are going electric! A pioneer in France, Val Cenis has equipped itself with a specialized 100% electric snow groomer for sledging, cross-country skiing and the snow front.

How do you measure your carbon footprint?

To measure your carbon footprint, and more specifically that of a day's skiing at Haute Maurienne Vanoise, there are several online tools that enable you to make a simple, personalized estimate.
How to measure your carbon footprint on the ADEME website

The ADEME (French Agency for Ecological Transition) website, for example, offers a simulator that lets you calculate the Co2 emissions of your journeys according to the distance covered, the mode of transport chosen, and the number of passengers. It also assesses the overall impact of the trip, including the resort's energy costs(ski lifts, heating, etc.).

What is the transport balance of a person coming from Paris by train and car?

A passenger coming from Paris, some 670 km from the Haute Maurienne Vanoise stations, has several transport options: train or car. These two means of locomotion have quite different impacts in terms of Co2 emissions.

- By train, then by car: The train is recognized as one of the least polluting means of transport. Taking the train from Paris to Chambéry already significantly reduces Co2 emissions, with an average of 2 kg per passenger. Once in Chambéry, a car journey of around 110 km to the Haute Maurienne adds around 19 kg of Co2 one way, or 42 kg round trip. This option combines a low-carbon impact for most of the journey with great practicality for direct access to tourist resorts, where local shuttles, notably at Modane, facilitate final journeys.

- By car only: On the other hand, a journey by private car emits far more Co2. For a conventional combustion-powered vehicle, the round trip from Paris to the Haute Maurienne would represent around 240 kg of Co2, a considerable amount compared with the train. And that's without counting any traffic jams or slow-downs that may add to the total.

What is the transport balance of a person coming from Brussels by train, car or plane?

For a traveler coming from Brussels, some 900 km from the stations, different transport options exist, each with a different carbon impact.

- By train and then by car: A journey from Brussels to Chambéry, with a connection in Paris or Lyon, generates around 3 kg of Co2 per passenger. On arrival, the car journey from Chambéry to Val Cenis, for example, adds 42 kg of Co2 for a round trip, bringing the total footprint to 48 kg of Co2.

- By car only: For a full round trip by car from Brussels, the footprint is around 320 kg of Co2. Although car-sharing can reduce this impact, this mode of transport still emits far more than train + car.

- By plane, then car: A round trip from Brussels to Lyon by plane produces around 440 kg of Co2 per passenger. To this must be added the 30 kg of Co2 for the round trip by car between Lyon and Val Cenis, bringing the total footprint to around 470 kg of Co2, the most carbon-intensive option.

 

 

Val Cenis, a Flocon Vert-labeled resort

Since 2021, Val Cenis has been recognized by the Flocon Vert label, a symbol of sustainable mountain tourism. This label guarantees its commitment through 20 ecological and social criteria: soft mobility, responsible resource management, support for the local economy, and shared governance. By choosing this resort, visitors help preserve the environment while discovering a rich local heritage.

Read more

Val Cenis, Flocon Vert-certified resort since 2021

 

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