Skiing's Governing Body Blasts "Shallow" Climate Change Petition

Ian Greenwood
·2 min read
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Author's note: Between the "he said, she said" nature of this situation and the fact that this drama is taking place across the pond (I'm writing from Montana, and I don't speak a lick of French or German), a lot remains foggy here -- I wanted to make that clear. This article could be updated in the future if more facts emerge.

Update 10/27/2023: POW has shared images on Instagram of excavators working on Zermatt's Theodul Glacier to prepare for the FIS World Cup in October 2023. In the post, POW notes that this work has been subject to a legal challenge. As of writing this update, POW's change.org petition has 31,000 signatures.

The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) has published a response to Protect Our Winters (POW) Switzerland's petition and now-widely-shared Instagram post that accused the FIS of digging into Zermatt, Switzerland's Theodul Glacier to build an early-season alpine skiing race course.

In the response's introduction, the FIS writes, "FIS has put sustainability at the forefront of all its actions, with the FIS Strategic Plan very clear on our commitment towards climate action. Instead of shallow and attention-grabbing campaigns, we support long-term, practical projects that will make a meaningful difference both to the future of our planet and to our athletes."

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A post shared by Protect Our Winters Switzerland (@protectourwintersswitzerland)

Then, the FIS noted several sustainability and environmental initiatives it participates in, like committing to reducing carbon emissions by 50% before 2023 and hiring Susanna Sieff, a sustainability director for the organization.

The FIS goes on to explicitly address POW Switzerland's petition and Instagram post.

"For your petition, you used a picture that was not taken in recent times but in the year 2019 from WWF Austria. This picture doesn't even show the Rettenbach Glacier/Sölden or the Theodul Glacier/Zermatt but the Pitztal Glacier and, therefore, has absolutely no connection to the FIS Alpine World Cup. In this case, there is no doubt that you are trying to incite hostility towards FIS by deliberately misleading the public using false information," the FIS wrote.

FIS's concern over the photos used by POW is founded in reality: several sources, including FIS, have pointed out that many of the images in POW's petition and Instagram post don't depict the Theodul Glacier in 2023. Instead, they show Austria's Pitzal Glacier in 2019.

Despite this, an investigation from the Swiss newspaper 20 Minuten indicates that FIS has been using excavators in Zermatt to prepare for the race season.

FIS, in its response to POW, did not address its activities on Zermatt's glaciers. According to a statement posted by our friends at Newschoolers.com, the use of excavators in Zermatt has ceased per a request from local authorities.

The FIS also claims, "You didn't mention, for instance, that you [POW Switzerland] had a meeting with Susanna Sieff on October 13, 2023, in which you were informed of the remarkable progress that FIS is making."

On October 17, POW Switzerland made the first Instagram post about the Theodul Glacier, which initiated the spat between POW Switzerland and the FIS.

POW Switzerland followed the Instagram post with an October 19th change.org petition pressing the FIS to reduce emissions and demonstrate commitment to environmental sustainability efforts. The petition has garnered over 28,000 signatures so far.

FIS' complete response is published below:

"FIS has put sustainability at the forefront of all its actions, with the FIS Strategic Plan very clear on our commitment towards climate action. Instead of shallow and attention-grabbing campaigns, we support long-term, practical projects that will make a meaningful difference both to the future of our planet and to our athletes.

To list a selection:

  • As a signatory of the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework (UNFCCC), FIS has committed to reduce its carbon emissions by 50% by 2030. We are working on a sustainability plan to collect as much data during the upcoming winter season as possible to provide the most accurate estimate of our CO2 footprint.

  • We have shifted our focus in order to calculate the emissions of FIS as an organization, where we have full operational control and management (unlike with externally-organized events). Once that is completed, FIS can strive to make reductions directly within our control through a CO2 reduction plan.

  • We have delayed the start of the season for one week and will continue to closely monitor whether we need to start the season even later, in line with our Strategic Plan.

  • We are spreading awareness among our National Associations about how best they can cut emissions and reduce their environmental impact, along with developing guidelines for all event organizers.

  • We are working to strengthen partnerships with other Sport Federations and NGOs working internationally on sustainability issues, following SDGS goal 17 which aims to revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development.

  • We have hired a Sustainability Director, Susanna Sieff, who is one of the most recognized experts in the field.

  • It is universally recognized that offsets are an impactful and necessary tool in the fight against climate change and that without them the 1.5-degree target cannot be achieved by 2050. With the FIS Rainforest Initiative, FIS supports indigenous communities and avoided deforestation projects and thereby follows several declarations of the United Nations Climate Change conference.

These are some of the actions we are taking, based on a sincere desire – indeed a determination – to make a difference. We had hoped that Protect our Winters (POW) could be our allies in this challenge. Instead, you seem to be choosing a different path:

  • You didn't mention, for instance, that you had a meeting with Susanna Sieff on October 13, 2023, in which you were informed of the remarkable progress that FIS is making.

  • Despite the spirit of cooperation FIS tried to foster at this meeting, POW has engaged in a public campaign with a petition that serves only to splinter the winter sports community rather than unite it.

  • For your petition you used a picture that was not taken in recent times but in the year 2019 from WWF Austria. This picture doesn't even show the Rettenbach Glacier/Sölden or the Theodul Glacier/Zermatt but the Pitztal Glacier and therefore has absolutely no connection to the FIS Alpine World Cup. In this case there is no doubt that you are trying to incite hostility towards FIS by deliberately misleading the public using false information. We must inform you that such conduct is unethical and we ask you to correct that with immediate effect.

Your campaign is highly unattractive. Your actions harm not only the reputation of FIS but also the future of skiing and snowboarding and the credibility of everyone genuinely trying to fight for climate action.

Given the urgency of the challenge we face, anyone in the snow sports world who cares about the perils of climate change should not focus on attention-seeking stunts but on finding real long-term solutions. FIS, at least, will continue to act in this spirit."

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