Carbon neutrality by 2037: French ski resorts take stock of their 16 environmental commitments

Five years after their environmental roadmap came into force, French ski resort operators are taking stock of the 16 eco-commitments adopted in 2020 to preserve the mountains. This collective initiative, led by Domaines Skiables de France (DSF) – the sector’s professional association – covers climate (with the ambitious goal of carbon neutrality by 2037), water management, biodiversity, landscapes and waste issues.

According to DSF, all monitoring indicators are improving year on year, thanks to the efforts of 18,500 employees working for some 200 French ski lift operators and ski areas. Technological innovations, investments and equipment upgrades are already helping to reduce the footprint of resorts, whether by reducing the fossil fuel consumption of snow groomers, greening the electricity powering the lifts, optimising water use or replanting vegetation on the slopes after work.

Environmental commitments: an encouraging progress report

The results reported on 2 October 2025 by DSF for each of the 16 commitments show concrete progress. The vast majority of ski areas now meet the targets set: across all facilities (ski lifts, water reservoirs, machinery, etc.), the compliance rate exceeds 90%. In terms of the number of companies, around 80% are fully compliant, with the remaining 20% mainly consisting of small organisations with more limited resources. To support these smaller resorts, DSF created a dedicated CSR centre in 2024, which provides human, technical and financial support so that all members can meet their eco-commitments within the set deadlines.

Several key indicators illustrate the progress of this environmental roadmap. The table below summarises some significant figures from the 2025 review:

Some performance indicators for French ski areas in 2025

It can be seen that some objectives have already been almost achieved: for example, outside peak periods, the closure of redundant ski lifts is now practised almost systematically (99% of the areas concerned). Similarly, training for eco-driving for operators – both for snow groomers and cable transport equipment – is widespread at 95%. These good operational practices produce measurable results: smoother driving of snow groomers immediately reduces their diesel consumption by 5 to 10% (and therefore associated CO₂ emissions). In terms of ski lifts, eco-friendly driving reduces electricity costs by 10 to 20% while raising awareness among teams about energy efficiency.

Towards zero-emission snow groomers

The industry’s flagship objective is to achieve carbon neutrality by 2037, i.e. net zero CO₂ emissions from its activities, more than a decade ahead of the national target of 2050. This commitment, adopted collectively in 2020 at the DSF congress in Grenoble, has been followed by concrete actions in each resort.

The main climate challenge concerns the decarbonisation of grooming machines. Today, around 95% of a ski area’s CO₂ emissions come from diesel-powered snow groomers. To eliminate this major source of emissions, professionals are focusing on energy transition and technological innovation.

At the same time, the electricity used to operate ski lifts and snow guns is largely decarbonised in France (hydropower, nuclear power, wind power, etc.). Operators are nevertheless committed to improving this performance by contracting green energy offers or producing renewable electricity locally (solar panels on the roofs of chairlift stations, micro-hydroelectricity using the force of water from reservoirs, etc.).

Energy efficiency is also improving: in addition to eco-driving of ski lifts, which reduces consumption, automatic eco-driving systems are now being installed on more and more lifts to adjust speed and power in real time according to passenger numbers. All of these efforts are part of the trajectory set to achieve ‘zero CO₂’ by 2037, a deadline that will require a fundamental rethinking of the energy model for ski resorts over the coming years.

Water management: optimising and sharing resources

Water is another critical resource that must be managed sustainably at high altitudes. Ski areas mainly collect it to produce artificial snow, which is used to secure the snow cover in the event of low natural snowfall. Today, 43% of ski areas have a high-altitude reservoir that allows them to store water in the summer in anticipation of winter snowfall. These reservoirs play a regulating role: they are used to smooth out water withdrawals over time, avoiding weakening watercourses during low water periods. By 2025, 95% of the resorts concerned (those with high artificial snow requirements) will be equipped with such a reservoir or in the process of being equipped. Furthermore, in the event of summer drought, 95% of operators with reservoirs make water available free of charge to local herds for watering or irrigation – a gesture of agricultural solidarity that is becoming increasingly widespread.

On the qualitative side, the focus is on optimising artificial snow. The aim is to produce just the right amount of snow, in the right place and at the right time, to avoid wasting water or energy. To this end, the ‘large’ resorts (>6 snow groomers) have invested heavily in systems for continuous measurement of snow cover on the slopes (GPS probes, on-board laser scanners, etc.). These tools provide accurate mapping of snow depths, guiding snowmakers to level and snow cover with surgical precision. As a result, 95% of ‘large’ ski areas now practise this precise snow management, gaining in efficiency and saving resources. At the same time, snowmaking networks continue to improve in performance (low-pressure artificial snow, smart snow guns, etc.), while reducing their energy footprint.

Finally, it should be noted that high-altitude reservoirs are strategic multi-purpose reserves for the regions. In addition to supporting pastoralism, as mentioned above, these bodies of water provide a valuable reserve for civil security needs (supplying Canadair aircraft in the event of a fire, providing additional drinking water in the event of a shortage). They also contribute to aquatic biodiversity (recreated wetlands) and to the summer appeal of resorts (leisure activities around water bodies).

As a reminder, the French Ski Areas Association has adopted a Water Conservation Plan for 2025.

Biodiversity: understanding and protecting flora and fauna

Preserving mountain biodiversity is at the heart of the commitments made by ski areas. The first step is to improve environmental knowledge of their area of activity. Each operator has therefore committed to carrying out an exhaustive inventory of the fauna, flora and natural habitats present in their area (wetlands, high-altitude forests, ecological corridors, etc.), as illustrated by the resort of La Rosière and its environmental observatory.

By 2025, around 73% of operators will have already completed such an inventory or will have an up-to-date naturalist study. This knowledge, which is regularly updated, particularly before any new construction work, enables better adaptation of practices: planning work outside breeding or wintering periods, protecting sensitive areas, relocating and possibly rescuing remarkable species, etc.

At the same time, concrete measures are being taken to limit the impact of facilities on wildlife. A special effort is being made to protect capercaillies and black grouse, endangered mountain galliformes whose populations are in decline. These birds, which fly low, are at risk of colliding with the overhead cables of ski lifts and chairlifts. To prevent these often fatal collisions, ski areas had promised to mark 100% of dangerous cables with visual devices (orange balls, spirals, reflective flags) within five years. The 2025 results are encouraging: 97% of the sections at risk have been identified, and 83% of them are already equipped with anti-collision markers. This leaves a few sections still to be dealt with (an additional 14% to be equipped) and a few isolated installations to be assessed (3% not yet identified). DSF emphasises that this effort to protect birdlife is well on track to achieve the target within the set timeframe.

In addition, most operators collaborate with local nature conservation stakeholders (national and regional parks, hunting and fishing federations, environmental associations) in order to coexist as harmoniously as possible with wildlife. Management plans are established to, for example, create quiet zones for grouse in winter (temporary closure of certain off-piste areas during sensitive periods), or to adapt night lighting on facilities so as not to disturb nocturnal wildlife. In summer, several resorts participate in habitat restoration programmes (planting honey plants for pollinators, creating ponds, etc.) to compensate for the impact of their developments.

Landscapes: revegetating slopes and dismantling abandoned ski lifts

Preserving mountain landscapes is as much an ecological issue as it is a tourist one. French ski areas are committed to repairing and integrating their facilities into the alpine landscape as much as possible. One principle has been established: all earthworks or work on the slopes must be followed by complete revegetation of the bare surfaces. This commitment to ‘100% revegetation after work’ is now almost fully met: in 2023, 94% of projects carried out on grassy or alpine areas resulted in immediate reseeding.

Better still, nearly 70% of operators use only endemic plant seeds (local grasses) to replenish the soil, ensuring better regrowth and floral harmony with the surrounding ecosystem. The few remaining areas for improvement relate to extending these good practices to all domains: some very small stations with limited resources still struggle to systematise the use of local seeds, which are more expensive, or to have enough time and staff to immediately revegetate each affected area. DSF’s CSR division also provides support here to disseminate ecological engineering techniques (e.g. building up stocks of local species seeds, high-altitude plant nurseries, inter-station mutual assistance for re-turfing work).

The other aspect of the landscaping project concerns the heritage inherited from the past. After decades of operation, the mountain still contains obsolete, abandoned ski lifts: old, out-of-service ski lifts, isolated pylons, disused chairlift stations, etc. In addition to their negative visual impact on the landscape, these unmaintained metal structures can pose a danger (risk of collapse, falling cables) to hikers and wildlife. In 2021, Domaines Skiables de France launched a proactive programme to dismantle obsolete facilities, relying on the voluntary work of its members and the support of the municipalities concerned. The initial goal was to remove at least three old lifts per year. Today, the pace has even accelerated: 16 ski lifts have already been dismantled since 2021 across the country. The effort will continue until the phenomenon has been completely eliminated.

DSF reports that it has identified approximately 69 obsolete installations remaining, spread across 40 sites in the French mountains (situation at the end of 2025). The geographical distribution of this equipment to be dismantled is uneven: the Alps account for the vast majority of old ski lifts awaiting deconstruction, while other mountain ranges such as Corsica have none:

Distribution of obsolete ski lifts identified as of 2 October 2025. Source: DSF

This mountain clean-up plan mobilises many local stakeholders every year. In 2023, for example, 7 abandoned installations were dismantled at various sites (from the Alps to the Vosges) thanks to the participation of volunteer technicians from DSF member operators. In 2024, a large-scale operation took place in the Vosges, with the dismantling of three ski lifts and two small buildings (former stations) in a disused area, in agreement with the local council that owns the site. And in the summer of 2025, several other installations disappeared from the landscape, such as two ski lifts in the Collet Retournemer area and two in Notre-Dame-du-Pré (Savoie). DSF has confirmed its intention to maintain this pace of dismantling, so that in the medium term ‘no abandoned ski lifts will constitute a danger or visual pollution in the mountains’.

Waste: almost ‘zero waste’ resorts

Every year, when the snow melts, waste collection operations are organised on the slopes and around the resorts: ski area staff, ski instructors, residents and holidaymakers volunteer to scour the mountains to remove cigarette butts, packaging and other rubbish left behind during the winter. This type of initiative, which has been around for a long time, has become widespread: 96% of sites now report organising at least one annual waste collection in the natural environment. Most go further by actively involving customers: 90% of operators regularly carry out awareness-raising activities among skiers and hikers. Communication posters, ‘clean mountain’ operations open to the public, distribution of pocket ashtrays and rubbish bags, partnerships with local associations – all means are good for educating people about good behaviour and promoting the slogan ‘zero waste’ on the peaks.

At the same time, ski areas are improving their internal practices to reduce waste at source. In maintenance workshops, the sorting of used oil, scrap metal and other materials is systematised, with dedicated recycling channels. Several operators have acquired shredders to recycle old equipment on site (for example, transforming old piste protection nets into plastic flakes in order to reuse them). High-altitude restaurants, for their part, are moving towards fully reusable options: phasing out disposable cups and cutlery, installing water fountains to replace plastic bottles, composting organic waste, etc.

Solidarity: large vs small resorts, a shared transition

While large international resorts have the financial and human resources to make rapid progress on all these fronts (some Alpine ski areas have invested several million euros in projects such as hillside reservoirs and new grooming technologies), smaller resorts – particularly those in medium-altitude mountains – face greater difficulties. Ageing equipment needs to be replaced, budgets are tight, staffing levels are low, etc. DSF recognises that there are real disparities among its members. However, the profession has chosen solidarity so that no one is left behind.

The Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) division set up in 2024 has the specific mission of helping operators who are lagging behind in the implementation of eco-commitments. This involves technical advice, shared training, but also collaborative financing mechanisms. For example, a support fund has been set up by the major resorts to co-finance the dismantling of obsolete ski lifts in small municipalities that cannot afford the cost of deconstruction work on their own. Similarly, experience sharing is organised: a resort that is a pioneer in water-efficient snowmaking or energy transition shares its expertise with a more novice resort through inter-massif exchanges and field visits.

This solidarity-based approach is bearing fruit. In one year, the proportion of operators fully compliant with the roadmap’s objectives has risen from around 75% to 80%, reflecting the efforts of small structures to catch up. DSF aims to achieve 100% compliance well before the 2037 deadline. ‘The mountains, like our planet, are our common good,’ says the professional union, emphasising that the ecological transition of mountain areas can only succeed by strengthening the links between all stakeholders: operators, local elected officials, ski schools, accommodation providers, tourism professionals, environmental associations and citizens, ‘because we all have a role to play’.

Heading for 2037: the mountains on the road to ‘zero carbon’

Of course, challenges remain to be overcome in order to achieve carbon neutrality by 2037. In particular, the conversion of the fleet of snow groomers to clean energy models (hydrogen or electric) will need to be finalised and the renewal of infrastructure will need to continue to make it more energy-efficient and intelligent. Innovation will play a key role: resorts are counting on technological advances (e.g. artificial intelligence to further optimise snow and energy management, or new, more sustainable materials for equipment) to overcome the final obstacles.

By setting 2037 as its target date, more than 10 years ahead of national and international climate commitments, the French mountain industry is also seeking to anticipate changes in visitor numbers and its economic model. Climate change is already forcing adaptations (decreased snowfall at medium altitudes, heat waves, extreme events, etc.) and making it all the more crucial to protect the local environment in order to maintain tourist appeal. The efforts undertaken – circular economy, energy efficiency, ecosystem preservation – aim to make resorts more resilient and ensure a sustainable future for skiing.

Beyond carbon neutrality, a new ambition is emerging: that of a regenerative mountain, capable not only of limiting its impact, but also of restoring ecosystems, revitalising soils and giving back to nature more than it takes – a model for the future where the mountain once again becomes a true laboratory of life.