The International Ski Federation (FIS) has released its newly developed Impact Program, a sustainability action plan designed to guide FIS and its key stakeholders through current and future global sustainability challenges. The program covers the period 2024-2026 and includes short, medium and long-term projects and targets. It will serve as a roadmap for the coming years and help FIS “to ensure that the next generation can continue to enjoy winter snow sports in their natural environment.”
The key priorities and objectives contained in the program will help to engage and guide winter sports stakeholders. At the heart of the document is the universal principle that we are all part of nature – and that every decision we make has an impact on the planet. Only by working together can we reduce our impact on the climate, share solutions and adopt regenerative practices.
Key priorities of the Impact Program include:
- Reducing the carbon footprint of FIS activities and events and supporting concrete actions to combat or adapt to climate change in collaboration with national ski federations and event organizers.
- Promote biodiversity and nature conservation by participating in nature restoration projects.
- Organizing educational activities to raise awareness of climate change, nature conservation, integration and protection of nature and to increase sustainability awareness and knowledge within the winter sports community.
- Responsible sourcing of goods and services to reduce the negative environmental and social impact of the winter sports industry.
- An annual Impact Report to communicate progress and ensure transparency.
A key element of the program is that FIS will calculate and reduce its direct carbon footprint and, in addition, support and work with its national ski federations and organizers to reduce their emissions and minimize their environmental impact. FIS will support its members in calculating their carbon footprint and develop sustainability plans and toolkits to reduce these figures. FIS will also focus heavily on the direct environmental impact of its own activities, working towards a stated goal of net zero by 2040.
FIS said the Impact Program was designed as a holistic, 360-degree approach to sustainability. In addition to the environmental elements, FIS has also recognized the equal importance of social and economic change and has included several action points and targets in these areas.
There was no explicit mention of whether the program would also postpone schedules or restrict races on glaciers or relocate them to other resorts, although page 7 of the program states that “Glacier protection and conservation projects with FIS staff and partners” is one of the projects that should be implemented by December 2024. “Stimulate and fund scientific research on climate change, mountains, snow and glaciers”, on the other hand, is planned in the program until 2025. Most recently, there were heated discussions about the World Cup kick-off in Sölden in November 2023, for which the glacier had been heavily machine-processed.
