Ecological transition and climate adaptation, the R gion's priorities
In early March, Renaud Muselier, president of the R gion, launched the Parlement R gional des Jeux d'hiver 2030, alongside Franois de Canson.
This body will bring together citizens, elected officials, and local stakeholders to build exemplary Games and meet the major challenges of making the Games a model of sustainability and innovation: ecological transition, climate adaptation, resource management, responsible infrastructure, and a legacy for future generations.
“As we have understood, everything starts with a dream, a deep love for our mountains and their inhabitants, from a Renaud Muselier who has always been passionate about skiing and red sweaters. From a man who also experienced the award of the Paris Games in 2017 in Lima and who, as a young minister, knew Lillehammer. Everything also starts with a realization.
We have everything in our Alpes du Sud,” says Franois de Canson. SECOND LARGEST SKI AREA IN FRANCE Indeed, the Sud region has the second largest ski area in France with 65 resorts, champions, snow every winter, etc.
However, the region has never hosted the founding event of sports competitions, the legendary Olympic and Paralympic Games. While our neighbors in the North have hosted them 3 times, in 1924 in Chamonix, in 1968 in Grenoble, and in 1992 in Albertville. Thus, the Conseil r gional created two Plans Montagne, representing €300 million for resorts to lay the foundations of smart tourism, based on the ski economy, on diversification, and on model transitions.
Furthermore, it signed a unique agreement with the ski areas based on strong commitments for the resorts. In concrete terms, 2.2 billion has been injected into the alpine territories. The president of the CRT explained: ’Nothing is left to chance.
Some 42 million are being invested in the mountain sports plan for champions, for infrastructure, and for a future preparation center in Sauze. Our mountain economy is worth €3 billion, including €2 billion in tourism revenue. Moreover, the Alpes brand was a foundational element, as €1 million is committed every year to promote our resorts.
This winter, the results speak for themselves, with an increase of 4 points during the Christmas holidays, and 2 points during the February holidays.” THE LEAST EXPENSIVE GAMES He added: “The higher a resort is, the more its slopes face North, the more its snow cover is guaranteed by 2050.
For Serre Chevalier and Montgenvre, given the existing infrastructure and investments, the reliability of snow cover in 2030 will be 95%, according to the worst-case climate scenario. Furthermore, we have demonstrated our expertise in attractiveness and the organization of world-class events.
For example, Nice is hosting the World Ocean Congress next June. This was designed as a legacy, given that we will use the Palais set up on the harbor as a venue for TV sets and prestigious events of the Winter Games.” With the deeply held conviction of never pitting economic development against environmental preservation, the president of the CRT announced the conclusions of a study conducted by the firm Ast r s: “The French Alpes 2030 would be the least expensive Games since 1988 in Calgary.
These games would generate the creation of 48,000 jobs in France, €3.6 billion in added value (0.15% of GDP), and €1.6 billion in tax and social revenues. Not to mention the tourism benefits.” Finally, the R gion Sud has launched a Clim'eau study focusing on water resource management in the mountains, without ignoring the subject of artificial snow and the associated paths to energy autonomy.
The results, eagerly awaited by all key players, will be revealed at the end of 2025. • In the presence of: Jean-Pierre SERRUS, vice-president of the R gion, Herv LIBERMAN, regional councilor, Jean-Marie BERNARD, president of the D partement des Hautes-Alpes, liane BARREILLE, présidente of the D partement des Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, Gwenalle GIGAREL NOURY, president of the F d ration Franaise des Sports de Glace, Pierre-Yves GERBEAU, president of the F d ration Franaise de Hockey sur Glace.
Damien ROBERT, executive director of the SOLIDEO, Hugues PARANT, special delegate for the 2030 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games of the R gion Provence-Alpes-C te d'Azur, Franois GEMENNE, researcher, co-author of the 6th report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (GIEC), St phane MOURLANE, deputy director of the Maison m diterran enne des sciences de l'homme, Aix-Marseille Universit , Samuel LE BIHAN, president of Earthwake.
Photos Guillaume HORCA - JUELO.