I wish I could continue skating on this beautiful snowy mountain forever... "Protect Our Winters (POW) Japan" is engaged in various activities aimed at "realizing a decarbonized society starting from the snow community." In December 2023, we launched the Sustainable Resort Alliance (SRA), which connects snow resorts aiming to operate sustainably with companies and individual skiers and snowboarders. Let us introduce its aims and activities.
Sustainable Resort Alliance born of POW's wishes(SRA)
In order to protect natural fields from the crisis of climate change, STEEP has introduced a variety of POW's initiatives, such as thinking about what the snow community can do, and promoting awareness activities and network building for a decarbonized society.
"To solve the climate crisis, we need to change the current economic and social system that is causing the problem. Because winter sports are directly affected by global warming, I want to take the lead in making changes." With this in mind, POW is aiming to make ski resorts across the country zero-carbon and sustainable, and as a place where ski resorts and skiers can both aim to make this a reality, POW is organizing the Sustainable Resort Alliance (hereinafter referred to as SRA) this winter. I started a project called.
"Alliance" means "federation". In other words, it is a federation of resorts that promote sustainability. Approximately one year after its conception, activities will begin in December 2023 as the largest project since the launch of POW JAPAN in 2019.
What is SRA?
SRA is a platform that supports ski resorts that are facing the issue of climate change and aiming for sustainable management that is considerate of the natural environment. For ambitious ski resorts, we will create and provide guidelines that explain the steps toward decarbonization, as well as seminars and study sessions to share the know-how of ski resorts that are already making progress and advanced examples from overseas. We plan to start creating a place for this from spring 2024 onwards.
A condition for joining SRA is to make sustainability a management priority.
The company also agrees to a commitment to realize decarbonization efforts together with the "snow community" including guests, local communities, and related businesses. As of February 2024, the following ski resorts have already joined.
Encourage and culture suggestions for skaters
In order for each ski resort to move forward with its efforts and lead to changes in the snow industry as a whole, it is essential to support skiers and work together with local communities and other snow-related companies. We will foster the mindset that choosing green ski resorts and skiing at sustainable ski resorts feels good, and that supporting these efforts will help protect the future of snow. We propose a "new culture" where this is the norm.
In order to foster such a culture, we will provide support for both ski resorts and users to revitalize their own sustainable initiatives, and create mechanisms that allow both sides to interact and create positive interactions. For example, a campaign is one specific action that skiers can take to support the ski resort.
SRA's vision
SRA will first play a role as a platform that allows snow resorts and users to circulate, and in the future it will become a movement that targets the entire region where the resort is located, encompassing local industries such as lodging facilities, restaurants, transportation infrastructure, and agriculture. Aim to become. And the snow community will play a central role in achieving sustainability throughout the region. Furthermore, in addition to making snow resorts across the country more sustainable, we also want to develop the federation into a presence that can even influence national energy policy. These goals are set out in a long-term vision.
"POW Ticket" trial introduction started！
The SRA is moving quickly as an initiative that takes advantage of the unique characteristics of the federation. This February, we immediately began the trial implementation of ``POW Tickets''. A "POW ticket" is a special ticket with a donation added to the regular lift ticket. Donations will be used to support efforts to achieve zero carbon and sustainability at ski resorts. In other words, by purchasing this POW ticket, users can directly support the efforts of the ski resort.
Among the SRA member ski resorts, Hakuba Happo-One will be the first to introduce this system from February 20, 2024. The donation will be used for forest maintenance at the ski resort. Aiming to become a sustainable ski resort, the company says it will take measures to reduce the impact on the environment as much as possible.
When you purchase a POW ticket, you will receive an original POW JAPAN and Hakuba Happo-one sticker as a gift. This will make you feel happy and a little proud. As an individual initiative to make ski resorts zero-carbon and sustainable, why not start by doing what you can do naturally without worrying about it?
Currently, POW is running this campaign. This is an initiative to collect feedback from skiers through a questionnaire and deliver it to ski resorts. We encourage all STEEP users to participate.
Support with one click! Campaign ~ until the end of March!
I want to continue skiing on my home slope or at my favorite ski resort where I have fond memories.
Let's support your special ski resort to become a green ski resort by working on "decarbonization and sustainability"!
POW JAPAN will propose joining the "SUSTAINABLE RESORT ALLIANCE" to the "ski resorts you want to support" that you answered the questionnaire in this campaign and support towards decarbonization and sustainability.
＞ Click here to
Subsequent series development
When small actions come together, they become a big force. Let's increase the number of people who share our mindset and create a new culture together.
After this, STEEP will pick up ski resorts and companies that are members of the SRA and introduce in detail their zero carbon and sustainability efforts. The ski resorts featured in the series are as follows. Please look forward to seeing what kind of thoughts and perspectives each ski resort is taking, and what kind of actions they are taking.
—From SRA member ski resorts
● Hakuba Happo-One Ski Resort
● Able Hakuba Goryu
● Katashina Kogen Ski Resort
● Smile Resort
● Tokyu Land Corporation
(Publication order to be determined)
Information POW JAPAN
◆Official website: https://protectourwinters.jp/
◆Official SNS: Instagram ｜ Facebook ｜ YouTube
