How do you reconcile these two seemingly contradictory terms?
The best way not to have an impact would be not to organize an event. But as enthusiasts, we’re committed to offering a human mountain adventure that we see as a responsible event. In partnership with Aircoop and Salomon, we have therefore established an environmental impact assessment for all ULTRA SPIRIT editions.

To go as far as possible in this meaningful and forward-looking approach, we are committed to two things in two stages: 

• measure the impact of the event on a series of specific criteria, year after year.
• reduce the impact of elements over which we have control

We are happy to have been one of the three pilot events in the creation of a new tool. This methodology is based on a declarative questionnaire with 200 questions and 70 figures, classified according to 11 themes : purchases, transportation, sustainable nutrition, waste, biodiversity and local impact, energy, communication, diversity and inclusion, water, accommodation.

In January 2024, the assessment report gave figures for our environmental impact in 2023, (photo below). The total carbon footprint of ULTRA SPIRIT 2023 is estimated at 29.1t CO2, or 0.26TC02 per participant. As a reminder, the Paris agreements set a target of 2T of C02 / year / person, in order to stay below 1.5°c global warming.

To improve, we are considering several avenues for progress. Like integrating the choice of transport mode into the adventure and team selection process. Optimize organization-related transport. Encourage applications from women’s or mixed teams. Work towards the inclusion of people far from employment and with disabilities. Strengthen the vegetarian & vegan offer.

And because there’s always a way to go one step further, we have chosen to convert our carbon footprint into funding for virtuous forestry initiatives.

So we decided to support the Sylv’ACCTES association. This will enable us to finance, in particular, forestry work carried out in the Arlysère partner massif, which systematically has a positive impact on the climate, biodiversity and landscapes.

The system is being rolled out in three stages:
1. Identify actions to be carried out within the framework of local consultation: local authorities, foresters, users, nature protection associations, etc.
2. Provide financial support to private/public foresters who implement these actions in the form of work in their forests.
3. Control work to ensure a high level of quality: traceability of funds, scientific and technical committee.

To find out more about our actions on the massif, visit www.sylvacctes.org/massif-arlysere

Beyond our ecological footprint, we are also committed to supporting community projects and concrete actions that have a positive impact on the Beaufortain area.

Support for the local recycling center in Beaufort :

• transportation assistance for participants
• rehabilitation of Beaufortain trails
• local awareness workshops (climate fresco, mobility fresco)…

All these projects are and will be financed by the commitment of the partners who will be following us on this adventure.

And to guarantee a follow-up over time, we wanted to involve the POW France association, which mobilizes all outdoor enthusiasts to make a commitment to the climate. We encourage you to discover their year-round work to better understand and discover the actions that will enable you to turn your passion into a gateway to climate commitment.

www.protectourwinters.fr

In collaboration with Protect Our Winters France, the organization took schoolchildren from Beaufort’s mountain section to the Ultra Spirit bivouac. The aim was to raise awareness of the impact of transport through the mobility mural. This gave them an insight into mobility in France, and helped them think up new ways of getting around.