Lausanne, Switzerland: 27 September 2022: Exactly a year ago, the Swiss based non-profit association, the Sustainable Mountain Alliance (SMA) was launched on World Tourism Day, to help facilitate the transition to sustainable sports and tourism in the mountain environment.
SOLUTIONS
Since our establishment, we hosted the first SMA Challenge, the Air Quality Challenge, together with ThinkSport, and the Sustainable Sport Lab (SSL), supported by prestigious stakeholders, including the International Olympic Committee (IOC), World Athletics, Formula E, UCI and ENGSO. Solutions were sought across three categories: 1. Solutions that measure and mitigate the effect of poor air quality on athletes; 2. Solutions that clean polluted air and / or reduce air pollution and mobility solutions. The winners were presented at The Spot, an international sport and innovation event on 17 and 18 May 2022 in Lausanne and solutions are now implementing their solutions with sports partners.
We have continually sought to identify credible, scalable, ethical and sustainable solutions and social programmes that will contribute to the transition to sustainable sport and tourism in mountain communities around the world. The SMA fundamentally seeks to support solutions and programmes through policy advocacy, financial and strategic support.
Our next Challenge is supporting the Freeride World Tour in identifying solutions to support them on their sustainability journey, in collaboration with ThinkSport.
IMPACT FUND
In Tanzania, in collaboration with The Big Climb, USD25,000 was raised for solar panels for the Marangu Hospital based at the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest freestanding mountain in the world (5895m). The panels will serve in:
- Increasing energy security by reducing the need for diesel fuel;
- Providing reliable energy in a region that is blessed with year-round sunshine;
- Preventing localised air pollution by replacing the existing diesel power generators, that are often prone to break down;
- Saving the hospital money in electricity costs that can be spent on additional critical community health care services;
- Saving lives.
We are currently in discussions with a number of impact investors, banks, and philanthropists to scale up the Impact Fund to support sustainable innovation in the alps.
SPORT AND TOURISM
We are currently planning for the inaugural Big Climb Nepal to take place in November 2022 in partnership with UNESCO and local organisations that support female empowerment and adaptation to climate change within the communities around Mt. Everest.
Through our collaboration with The SHIFT consulting agency, we continue to support the sustainability efforts of a number of international mountain sports events including the Ultra Trail Mont Blanc (UTMB) and the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships Courchevel Meribel 2023.
SCIENCE TO ADVOCACY PROGRAMME
In collaboration with the International Biathlon Union (IBU), the Swiss Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research and other partners, we have been successful in obtaining funds from the European Commission to develop and implement concrete measures to enhance the sustainability of snow management in Nordic snow sports. With climate change impacting access to snow in most parts of Europe, developing sustainable environmental practices and growing climate resilience of snow sports is critical to ensure the future existence of both recreational skiing and elite sport. The SMA will notably contribute to the dissemination and impact of the project beyond Nordic snow sports.
WHERE TO NOW?
While we are yet to be financially independent, we count on the support of our partners to enhance our impact in facilitating the transition to sustainable sport and tourism in the mountains through our Programmes and Impact Fund.
Thank you for your continued support.