We love this great infographic, detailing the carbon cost of a day’s skiing, and the differences your choices can make to the final figure.
The data was based on a study by the French ski areas of La Clusaz, Le Grand Bornand and Tignes. It concluded that the carbon footprint of a day’s skiing is 48.9 kgCO2.
However, that top line figure contains a lot of variability depending on individual choices, the most important of which is how you choose to travel to resort.
Travel to resort generates over half of the carbon
The study concludes that 52% of your carbon cost will be generated by travel to resort. However, it points out that it can be significantly less if you choose low carbon travel options.
In the case of a local (someone from Annecy), they can cut their emissions by 75% if they travel in a car with four people in it (5.5 kgCO2), rather than driving alone (22.1 kgCO2).
Travel by Car
Travel by train to reduce your emissions to just 8% of flying
When they looked at a skier travelling from the UK, the different between flying and taking the train is even more stark.
Taking a plane and then a taxi to resort generates 61.7 kgCO2, but taking the train and then a bus to resort reduces that figure to just 5.0 kgCO2 – just 8% of the emissions generated by flying.
3kgCO2 less for vegetarians
While 8% of the carbon cost is down to food and drink, you can also reduce this by 75% if your diet is vegetarian.
#SkiFlightFree
If you’re reading this, it’s unlikely you are unaware of the need to reduce global emissions, so why not see if you can travel by train on your next ski trip.
You can read full details of the survey (in French) here.
