STEEP x POW collaboration helps boost campaign excitement
Protect Our Winters (POW) Japan is working to protect natural fields from the crisis of climate change by considering what the snow community can do and engaging in awareness campaigns and networking toward a decarbonized society. In December 2023, they launched the Sustainable Resort Alliance (SRA), which connects snow resorts aiming for sustainable operations with companies and individual skiers and snowboarders. STEEP
also supports this movement and, in collaboration with POW, has been introducing the environmental initiatives of SRA member ski resorts in a series of articles under the framework of "THINK SNOW," which considers the future of snow. Have you had a chance to read them?
"Keep Skiing Green" One-click Support Campaign
POW has been running a campaign with the hope of supporting ski resorts in their efforts to become decarbonized and sustainable, and to become greener ski resorts. The campaign ended at the end of March, and the results have now been announced. We are sure that many STEEP readers participated in the campaign. (Thank you very much for your cooperation!)
April 22nd is Earth Day, a day designated globally as a day to reflect on the global environment.
In honor of this day, we would like to share the results of POW's "Support Green Ski Resorts" campaign with STEEP users.
The following is from the official POW website:
■Campaign Period: December 7, 2023 - March 31, 2024
■Number of Participants: 2,615
Throughout the season, we asked everyone to participate in this campaign, and we received 2,615 voices of support for ski resorts! We would like to express our sincere gratitude to everyone who participated in the campaign, as well as to all our partners, shops, and events nationwide who cooperated in the implementation of the campaign.
As skiers and snowboarders, we have a responsibility to enjoy ourselves and play, and making our voices heard to make our playgrounds greener has more power than we can imagine.
Currently, we are sharing the campaign results with the ski resorts that have received your voices and proposing that they join the Sustainable Resort Alliance (SRA). We hope that your voices will encourage more resorts to join the SRA and that more resorts nationwide will work together to become "greener ski resorts".
https://protectourwinters.jp/sra_campaignreport/
Based on the voting results, here's"Ranking of Ski Resorts We Want to Support"
Here's a partial ranking of "ski resorts that people want to support for sustainability" from across the country, based on votes from the campaign. Results by prefecture are also available on the official website's results page
" Green (sustainable) initiatives that we would like ski resorts to implement ."
When asked about sustainable initiatives for ski resorts by users, the most common answer was "switching to renewable energy for electricity." Ski resorts are large-scale facilities, so the amount of electricity consumed by lifts, snow machines, ski centers, restaurants, etc. is on a mega-scale. If they were to switch to renewable energy for operation, it would certainly be one of the biggest actions ever. Another plus is that it would be easy for the general public to understand
There were also many voices calling for the reduction of food waste and disposable materials, which shows the high level of awareness among each user. Unlike switching to a different electricity source, reducing food waste and disposable materials is something that even individual users can contribute to. For example, don't leave any food at the ski resort, and try not to bring in disposable items as much as possible. We hope to gather many small actions together to create a big action
You will also learn that there are many sustainable initiatives that ski resorts can take. The next time you go to a ski resort, it would be a good idea to take an interest in how many of these initiatives are being put into practice
Additionally,the official website's results pagefeatures several testimonials from users who participated in this campaign. Be sure to check it out!
Spring Snow Riding Session & Litter Picking Event,
Wednesday, April 24th, 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM @ Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort
Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort, a member of POW JAPAN's Sustainable Resort Alliance, will be hosting a riding session and mountain clean-up event on Wednesday, April 24th, organized by Nozawa locals and POW ambassadors Yukiko and Kenji Kono
This year's event will not only involve picking up trash, but also a riding session scheduled to begin at 10:00. Two POW ambassadors, Yukiko and Kenji Kono from Nozawa, and other ambassadors may also be joining the fun. Even in late April, there is still plenty of snow remaining in the Yamabiko area at the top of the slopes, making for some great spring skiing and snowboarding
Let's have fun skiing together and express our gratitude for the season through the action of picking up trash.
Everyone is welcome! Participation is free! (Lift tickets are at your own expense) You can join us midway! Let's meet at 10:00 AM on Wednesday, April 24th in front of the Yamabiko summit station of the Nagasaka Gondola!
Wednesday, April 24, 2024, 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM.
Venue: Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort.
Meeting and dismissal point: In front of the Yamabiko summit station of the Nagasaka Gondola.
[Schedule]
10:00-11:00 Skating session
11:15-12:45 Litter picking
12:45-13:00 After sorting and collecting trash, group photo taken, then dismissal
◆Official website for
Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort:https://nozawaski.com/
Information POW JAPAN
◆Official website:https://protectourwinters.jp/
◆Official social media:Instagram|Facebook|YouTube