Earth Day 2020

April 22, 2020 marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. At Ski Chic-Chocs, we believe this is the perfect time to remember that we can celebrate through action! In a context of climate change, we see the need to adapt in order to preserve the raw material of the recreational tourism industry: the environment.

On this Earth Day 2020, what can we do?

1. Get informed and talk about it with our loved ones!

You can visit the Earth Day website https://jourdelaterre.org/qc/ for ways to take action, live programming and more. If you want to go further...

You are an individual and want to learn more about climate action:

You are an organization working in recreational tourism and wish to integrate sustainable development into your practices:

In the current situation of confinement, social networks can be a knowledge sharing alternative with considerable reach. In addition, let's not hesitate to talk about the importance of eco-responsibility and a sustainable lifestyle during dinner with family or with roommates, by incorporating the principles of sustainable development into our discussions on future skiing and biking expeditions, for example.

2. Telecommuting… in an eco-responsible way!

Although our digital impact is not tangible, it nevertheless represents a part of our annual carbon footprint. Indeed, the global digital represents between 3 and 4% of greenhouse gas emissions. How to reduce its digital impact?

  • Use Ecosia as a search engine: for each search, Ecosia plants a tree. 80% of the profits generated by advertising on its website go to planting trees in areas that need it most.
  • Limit sending emails: “A typical year of incoming emails would add 136 kg to our carbon footprint, representing a journey of approximately 320 km by car. Be careful not to send large attachments and regularly delete your emails are other ways to reduce your digital impact” (Earth Day, 2020).
3. Encourage and buy local
For example, by placing an order at your local grocery store or by booking an adventure tourism activity in a new region of Quebec that you wish to explore (after confinement!).

When we can be outside, what can we do to preserve our environment?

1. Respect fragile environments

Go out in small groups and keep your distance from flora and fauna to avoid disturbance to fragile ecosystems. For example, Ski Chic-Chocs applies this principle by bringing a limited number of people to remote areas, such as the Madeleine Mines, in particular to align its activities with the Act respecting threatened or vulnerable species.

2. Apply the 7 “leave no trace” principles (© Leave No Trace Canada)

1. Prepare and plan
Plan route and meals: This leads to less waste and less reliance on campfires for cooking.

2. Use durable surfaces

Stay on the trails as much as possible and find a suitable place to camp, keeping in mind the fragility of the vegetation and the soil as well as the possible disturbances of the fauna: this helps to preserve the symbiosis of the ecosystems. If the snow cover is sufficient, the underlying vegetation will normally be protected.

3. Properly manage waste

This applies for waste in the mountains, but also for waste caused by the production of equipment. We suggest putting forward the 4R method (refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle), in order to rethink our consumption.

4. Leave intact what you find

If it is necessary to develop places to set up a camp, for example, replace the elements of the landscape as they were before leaving.

5. Minimize the impact of fires

First, ask yourself if the campfire is necessary. If so, take into consideration the harsh growing conditions to which trees and bushes are subjected in particularly hostile alpine or desert locations, and make sure not to harm the regeneration of plant species when collecting firewood

6. Respect wildlife

Get to know the wildlife by observing it discreetly. During your observations, divide your group into smaller subgroups to minimize your impacts.

7. Respect other users

And don't forget, taking concrete action on April 22 is good, but every day is even better. Adapting to climate change takes the form of big and small actions!

Together, let's protect our winters!

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