TOP 20 of french ski resorts with most diversified activities
February 26, 2017 Innov Mountains analyzed the snow and ice activities proposed by more than 200 French ski resorts, and gives his readers the result of this study, as a chart of winter sport activities diversity. We also release a separate ranking for low-lying ranges, as some of them have made considerable efforts in the lasts years to propose a wide choice of disciplines. (…)
France : 15 sustainable mountain resorts with outstanding actions
February 7, 2017 Today, many French mountain resorts stand out for their commitment to sustainable development. Labeled Green Flocon, green resorts, Green Globe or winners of the 2016 Cimes Sustainable Trophies, more and more of them involve to propose a preserved natural environment and a more responsible tourism. ( … )
Published on November 20 , 2016 – Author : Coline Mionnet
Historic Drought in Southwestern United States
While a horde of climate denizens is preparing to invest in the White House US Southwestern states are experiencing the largest drought ever recorded in more than 40 years.
California and Nevada are the most affected by heat waves and lack of precipitation that have been combined for 5 years in this region but Arizona and Utah are also severely impacted.
Published on November 20, 2016 – Author : Coline Mionnet
Can Trump become the grave-digger of the Paris climate deal?
While COP22 is being held in Marrakech, the shock of Trump’s election as the next president of the United States has left the democrats of the whole world groggy, stunned by this event that they wanted to believe unthinkable.
In these difficult times when civilizations, cultures, and religions clash brutally, it appears that the cleavage brings together and that the appeasement clive. This is the unexpected paradox born from globalization and the fears it arouses, sometimes rightly, in western societies.
Published on November 9, 2016 – Author : Coline Mionnet
Global warming : what effects on mountain ecosystems ?
French Alpine Ecology laboratory (LECA), in Grenoble, initiated at the end of september an interestingt experiment with the aim of observing the reactions of Alpine ecosystems in the face of the stress caused by a brutal climatic warming of 3°C.
Supported by the logistics of the Alpine Station Joseph Fourier and with the support of the commune of Monêtier-les-Bains (Hautes Alpes) the researchers cut out alpine lawn slabs with a substrate about fifteen centimeters thick.
Published on October 30, 2016 – Author: Coline Mionnet
Skiing : Why France has lost its 1st world place ?
During the winter season 2015/2016, France has sold 52 million skier-days, against 53.9 million for the United States, which took the 1st place in the world ranking. Even if it remains the first ski area in Europe, France experienced a decline of 3% of its attendance compared to the past season and of 6% compared to the average of the 4 past winter seasons. How to explain this trend ?
Published on october 22, 2016 – Author : Coline Mionnet
10 mountain sites inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage in 2016
This summer and as every year, 21 new sites have been selected to be listed in the UNESCO World Heritage, a chance for these protected areas that fascinate and arouse the interest of local or foreign tourists. Out of 21 sites, 10 are located in mountain areas, a great victory for these remote locations and those who have fought for the recognition of their natural or cultural particularities.
Published on October 7, 2016 – Author : Coline Mionnet
Renewable energy innovations – Part 1
As the Energy Festival is beginning, initiated by the ADEME (French Agency for Environment and Energy Management) seven years ago, Innov Mountains publishes this special file about renewable energy innovations and the companies which develop them. These precursors set the bases of tomorrow’s civilisation, sustainably-powered and respectful of the planet.
This orientation is not an option anymore, but above all an obligation towards future generations.
Published on September 28, 2016 – Author : Coline Mionnet
Vancouver, greenest city in the world by 2020 ?
Last August, Vancouver city Hall reaffirmed that the city would become the world’s greenest by 2020 through its « Greenest City Action Plan ». Between the ocean and mountains, Vancouver is situated on the Canadian Pacific Coast close to North Shore Mountain and counted around 600 000 inhabitants in 2011. This special link with nature may explain its will to become a sustainable city.
Published on September 21, 2016 – Author : Coline Mionnet
Bioclimatic domes for Sancy Resort
At the heart of the massif of Sancy in Auvergne, Sancy Resort tourist complex has six eco-lodges designed with respect for the environment, and is expected to expand by building bioclimatic houses « Natura Dome ».
Located in Chambon des Neiges at 1200 m above sea level, between Chambon Lake, the Valley of Chaudefour and 20 minutes away from Mont-Dore and Super-Besse ski resorts, Sancy Resort offers a range of sports and wellness activities.
Published on September 9, 2016 – Author : Coline Mionnet
The boom of village power plants – Renewable energy
This concept of village power plants is a success. It consists in collective production of electricity from renewable energy sources at a small territory level and its citizens.
The principle is simple: a local company is created and each investor can participate in its governance : town, citizen or company, in different ways. For example, it is possible to rent one’s roof to the company or to buy shares in the project. In return, the participants receive dividends from the resale of produced electricity. Check out some examples of existing village plants in France.
Published on September 3, 2016 – Author : Coline Mionnet
Soon a Natural Regional Park of Belledonne ? Or not !
Since its creation in 1998, Espace Belledonne association is busy to federate socio-economic actors in the Belledonne range territory.
It has emerged as a key partner in the organization of the territory and participates to many promotion projects of its natural, cultural and economic heritage. Thus, development of mountain agriculture and sustainable tourism is encouraged.
Published August 20th, 2016 – Author : Coline Mionnet
Towards 100% renewable energy powered ski resorts
Today, most of ski resorts are concerned with climate change, but only some of them use 100% onsite renewable energy for their operations. Where are they located ? What is their strategy ?
Published on August 2, 2016 – Author : Coline Mionnet
Boost for renewable energy on Reunion Island
On Reunion Island, pioneer in energy transition, renewables now represent more than one-third of electricity production. The objective is to increase the share of renewables in the island energy mix up to 50% by 2020, and to 100% by 2030.
According to EDF Group, which accompanies Reunion Island in its energy transition, renewable energy covered 36% of the territory electricity needs in 2015.
A range of everything there is to do and see by massif, in mountain as in valley !
From natural, cultural sites, passing by visits and tasting experiences at local producers’ to on site activites : leisure, sports, relaxing… In short, all the good addresses to
prepare your holiday in mountain in every seasons.
You planned mountain holiday out of ski season ? Soon, you will be sure, in every season (all year long) in the labelled territory, to have at least 5 choices in each of these 4 sections :
1) Accomodation,
2) Sports & Nature,
3) Leisures, relaxing and
4) Culture & Home made art.
Any local government located in mountain or in valley area can ask the 4 Seasons Tourism Label.
Anyone is invited to post one’s project, the author will decide who he wants to work with if several rivals are interested by his/her project.
You can also find out and vote about projects in you town, local government or any other territory. The goals of this section are many, as to boost local economy in mountains
and valleys in the world, stimulate access to passion jobs, or promote sustainable projects.
This is our partners’ network : public, private, semi-private profesionnal stakekholders who act for sustainable development in mountain and valley areas. The aim : easily find and contact professionals you need, wherever in the world.
Offered spaces to active associations in the fields of biodiversity protection, solidarity, community care, employment, crowdfunding, etc.
List of links towards those associations websites