Whatever the reasons – health crisis, conflict or climate change -, since 2020, we have wanted to reinvent our relationship with the environment, both natural and working. The trend is not recent, but it is accelerating sharply. The increased attendance in the mountains over the past three summers shows a real desire to reconnect with the living, to follow another path.
In an April 2022 survey by the National Association of Mountain Resort Mayors (ANMSM), respondents believe that a resort must “protect and do prevention for its natural spaces, its biodiversity […] and carry out concrete actions in favor of the environment”. Water, waste, transport, nothing escapes it, and eating local is becoming a requirement for holidaymakers.
The scheme can be transposed and the coast follows the same path, from the Mediterranean Grande-Motte to the Atlantic Arcachon. Wetlands, forests, paths and seabed are the subject of redoubled attention. Everywhere, tourism promoters are multiplying eco-responsible approaches, seeking more authenticity and contacts with local actors… Now we “yoga-hiking”, we “hiking-philosopher”, we sing, we take care of ions under a waterfall and we even hug the trees. In short, fashion is about giving meaning to your stay. Slow tourism and change of scenery with reduced impact: there is a desire for decrease in the summer air.
H2O stays without CO2?
Are 100% carbon-free holidays away from home possible? No, because the journey remains a major source of pollution. According to Patrick Provost, president of the Observatory of mountain stations at the ANMSM, “reducing the carbon footprint must go through a significant, rapid and adequate improvement in the train offer; 15% of those who take the car would then be ready to change their habits”. In this regard, the Savoie Mont Blanc initiative on transport (read below) represents a wise decision to act in favor of the “positive transition”.
Our ideas for stays will guide you towards these paths paved with concrete actions in favor of reducing the carbon footprint. But what if we already started with a “zero waste” approach?
IN NUMBERS
74% of French people consider the environmental criterion “important and to be taken into account when choosing a stay in the mountains” (source ANMSM April 2022).
Responsible mobility and actions
• The platform gosavoiemontblanc.com allows you to plan, book and pay for trips to the resorts, valleys and lakes of Savoie and Haute-Savoie. The tool adjusts each criterion (type of transport, CO2 emission, transit time, cost) to find the least carbon-intensive solution. The initiative is also implemented by nine resorts, including Tignes, Val-Cenis, Les Saisies…
• In Isère, it is easier to find your way depending on your means of transport on itinisere.fr.
• The concrete actions followed by the stations on socio-eco-environmental issues can be found on the site tomorrowsavoiemontblanc.com.
• This is the story of two families of four… One comes by train, eats locally, drinks tap water, heats with electricity. The other takes the car, consumes products from elsewhere and bottled water, heats with fuel… Carbon footprint over the week: 28 kilos of CO2 for the first, against… 202 kilos for the second (source Mountain Riders, 2020). BLOW UP IF NO SPACE IN MODEL