POW JAPAN launches “Sustainable Resort Alliance (SRA)”!

So that we can continue to ski on these beautiful snowy mountains forever... Protect Our Winters (POW) Japan is engaged in various activities to "achieve a carbon-free society initiated by the snow community." In December 2023, they launched the Sustainable Resort Alliance (SRA), which connects snow resorts aiming for sustainable operation with companies and individual skiers and snowboarders. We will introduce their aims and activities

The Sustainable Resort Alliance was born from POW's desire(SRA)

STEEP has previously introduced various POW initiatives, such as considering what the snow community can do to protect natural fields from the threat of climate change, and conducting educational activities and networking towards a decarbonized society

"Solving the climate crisis requires changes to the current economic and social system that is causing the problem. Winter sports are directly affected by global warming, so we want to take the lead in bringing about change." With this in mind, POW launched a project this winter called the Sustainable Resort Alliance (SRA), with the aim of making ski resorts across the country zero-carbon and sustainable, and as a forum where ski resorts and skiers can work together to achieve this

The word "alliance" refers to a federation of resorts promoting sustainability. The project, which began about a year ago, is the largest project since the launch of POW JAPAN in 2019 and will begin operations in December 2023

What is SRA?

SRA is a platform to support ski resorts that are facing the issue of climate change and those aiming for sustainable management that takes the natural environment into consideration. From spring 2024 onwards, the platform will create and provide guidelines for aspiring ski resorts that explain the steps they should take to decarbonize, and will also create opportunities for seminars and study groups to share know-how from ski resorts that are already making progress and advanced examples from overseas

The conditions for joining SRA are to make sustainability a management priority and to agree to a commitment to working with the "snow community" including guests, local communities, and related businesses to achieve decarbonization. As of
February 2024, the following ski resorts have already joined:

Proposals for encouraging skaters and culture

For each ski resort to move forward with their efforts and bring about change in the snow industry as a whole, it is essential to get the support of skiers and work together with the local community and other snow-related companies. We will foster a mindset that choosing green ski resorts and skiing at sustainable ski resorts is a great feeling, and we will spread the understanding that supporting these efforts will help protect the future of snow, and we propose a "new culture" where this is the norm

To foster this culture, we will support both ski resorts and users in activating their own sustainable initiatives and create mechanisms for the two to interact and generate positive interactions. For example, campaigns are one concrete action that skiers can take to support ski resorts

SRA's Vision

SRA will begin by serving as a platform for connecting snow resorts and users, but in the future it aims to become a movement that targets the entire region where the resort is located, encompassing local industries such as accommodation facilities, restaurants, transportation infrastructure, and agriculture. The snow community will then serve as the core to realize sustainability throughout the region. Furthermore, the organization hopes to not only contribute to the sustainability of snow resorts across the country, but also develop into a federation that can influence national energy policy. These are the goals that the organization envisions as part of its long-term vision

"POW Ticket" trial implementation begins！

Taking advantage of the unique characteristics of its federation, the SRA has been moving quickly to implement this initiative. Starting this February, they began trialing the "POW Ticket." A "POW Ticket" is a special ticket that adds a donation to a regular lift ticket. The donation is used to support the ski resort's efforts to become zero-carbon and sustainable. In other words, by purchasing a POW Ticket, users can directly support the efforts of the ski resort

Among SRA member ski resorts, Hakuba Happo-one will be the first to introduce this system on February 20, 2024. Donations will be used for forest maintenance at the ski resort. Aiming to become a sustainable ski resort, the resort will take measures to minimize the burden on the environment as much as possible

When you purchase a POW ticket, you will receive an original sticker from POW JAPAN and Hakuba Happo-One. This will make you feel happy and a little proud. Why not start by doing something natural and without any pretense as an individual effort to make ski resorts zero-carbon and sustainable?

POW is currently running this campaign. The campaign involves collecting feedback from skiers through a survey and sending it to ski resorts. We encourage all STEEP users to participate

Support with one click! Campaign ~ until the end of March!

Subsequent series development

Even small actions can become a big force when gathered together. Let's increase the number of people who share the same mindset and create a new culture together

From now on, STEEP will be highlighting ski resorts and companies that are members of the SRA and introducing in detail their zero-carbon and sustainable initiatives. The ski resorts featured in the series are listed below. We hope you enjoy reading to find out what thoughts and perspectives each ski resort has, and what actions they are taking

—SRA member ski resorts:
Hakuba Happo-One Ski Resort
, Able Hakuba Goryu
, Katashina Kogen Ski Resort
, Smile Resort
, and Tokyu Land Corporation
(listing order is undecided).

Information　 POW JAPAN
◆Official website: https://protectourwinters.jp/
◆Official SNS: Instagram ｜ Facebook ｜ YouTube