POW JAPAN POW JAPAN, an environmental organization that aims to protect winter from the climate crisis, announces the Sustainable Resort Alliance, which brings together snow resorts aiming to operate sustainably.

General Incorporated Association Protect Our Winters Japan
POW JAPAN, an environmental organization that aims to protect winter from the climate crisis, announces the Sustainable Resort Alliance, which brings together snow resorts aiming to operate sustainably. 16 ski resorts across Japan have decided to join in conjunction with the start of the activity.
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Protect Our Winters Japan is a general incorporated association (located in Hakuba Village, Kitaazumi District, Nagano Prefecture, Representative Director: Goro Komatsu, POW JAPAN) is pleased to announce the launch of the Sustainable Resort Alliance, which connects snow resorts that aim to operate sustainably, and the companies and individual skiers and snowboarders who support this goal. At the same time as the activity started, 16 ski resorts across Japan decided to join. It has been about a year since the concept was conceived, and this is the largest project since POW was launched in 2019.
URL: https://protectourwinters.jp/sustainableresort/

Individual skiers and snowboarders share the feeling that “skiing at a sustainable ski resort is cool,” gathering voices of support for the decarbonization of ski resorts, and raising expectations for ski resorts. We provide communication support, such as collecting information and sharing it with ski resorts, and encouraging active use of ski resorts that are working on sustainability.
This winter, we will be trialling the introduction of POW Tickets with some of our member ski resorts. A POW ticket is a special ticket that costs a few hundred yen more than a regular lift ticket, and the difference is donated to the ski resort’s sustainable efforts. We are also planning a system where deposits can be turned into donations. Starting with the circulation of playgrounds and players, in the future we would like to target the entire area where the snow resort is located, and make it a big movement by involving local industries such as local accommodations, restaurants, transportation
infrastructure, and agriculture. Masu.
■16 ski resorts from all over Japan are participating. Aiming to spread to snow resorts through activities this winter
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campaign bonus sticker
This is a campaign where you can support the decarbonization and sustainable resort of your special ski resort by choosing one of your favorite ski resorts, such as your home slope or one filled with memories. You can participate online, but if you scan and answer the QR code at a physical store (*1) of BURTON, Patagonia, UPLND, GENTEMSTICK, Goldwin, PEAK PERFORMANCE, KEEN, Rhythm Japan, or mountainFLOW, you will receive an original sticker.
This signature campaign is based on the successful experience of a signature campaign in 2020 calling for HAKUBA VALLEY to become a sustainable resort. As a result of the approximately 15,000 signatures we collected and submitted to HAKUBA VALLEY, we were able to make concrete changes by adding a sentence to the SDGs Declaration regarding switching ski resorts to renewable energy.
The real voices of each person will be a major driving force for the ski resort’s operation. Please share your thoughts on making ski resorts more sustainable by participating in the campaign.
Implementation period: December 7, 2023 (Thursday) – February 29, 2024 (Thursday)
Campaign application form URL: https://questant.jp/q/2YRGPXU5 Sustainable Resort Alliance URL: https://protectourwinters.jp/sustainableresort/ *1 The list of stores where you can receive stickers by applying in-store will be announced on SNS after the campaign starts. ■Comments from Sustainable Resort Alliance member ski resorts and supporters Able Hakuba Goryu (Hakuba Village, Kitaazumi District, Nagano Prefecture) “Our company was one of the first to form a partnership with POW JAPAN when it was launched in Japan in 2019, and has supported the sustainable activities that POW is trying to engage in by involving the snow community.When we heard about POW’s new alliance, we immediately decided to join. I did.
At Hakuba Goryu, even before the term SDGs was coined, we have been working to clean up the ski slopes and reduce power consumption, and since 2020, we have been operating part of the slopes using renewable energy. From December 2023, we will switch to 100% renewable energy. This is a big step for us, but since we created a ski resort by modifying the existing natural environment, we believe we have a responsibility to improve it and pass it on to the next generation. We will continue to put “sustainable resort management” as one of our core values ​​as a company and put it into action. ”
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Tokyu Snow Resort
“There are concerns that the environment surrounding snow resorts will be greatly affected by climate change such as global warming.Our company has been working hard to address this issue and provide snow-rich mountains for the next generation. In order to connect people with the joy of playing in nature, we have been conducting activities to protect snowy mountains.We have completed switching to 100% renewable energy for the electricity used at the seven ski resorts we operate. We are engaged in sustainable activities such as developing and selling environmentally friendly non-fluorine wax and holding the Katsuyama Nature School to learn about the importance of the natural environment.
Through this membership in SRA, we would like to further accelerate our efforts to preserve the environment, promote the “protect winter” movement together with everyone, and protect the ski resorts and winter sports of the future. ”
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Katashina Kogen Ski Resort (Katashina Village, Gunma Prefecture) “Our company has been operating resorts in the mountains for over half a century with the mission of “delivering time with nature to as many people as possible.” We have witnessed many phenomena that we have never experienced since our founding, such as frightening heavy rains and changes in the rhythm of vegetation.Sustainability provides an opportunity to regenerate fallow land and learn about climate issues. We have been working on tours and the active use of renewable energy, and we hope that by voicing out our thoughts in a place like this, we can all do good things against climate change, one step at a time. I hope that this trend will reach deep and spread.”
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Hiroshi Wada, former CEO of Iwatake Resort
“Ski resorts are businesses that are most susceptible to the effects of climate change because they utilize the blessings of nature, such as snow and mountains.
In recent years, even in Hakuba, which has boasted one of the heaviest snowfalls in the world, there has been a noticeable trend towards light snowfall, and ski resort managers are forced to continue investing in snowmaking machines. However, this directly leads to an increase in energy consumption, and I feel that we are faced with a self-contradiction in which a business that enjoys the blessings of the natural environment is increasing its environmental burden year by year, and that we must consider some other solution.
Under these circumstances, I heard that a platform will be born that aims to become a “sustainable resort” by collaborating with snow resorts and deepening the understanding of users, so I would like to do my best to help.
We protect the environment we like. Now, let’s all take action. ” Keiichi Takehana General Manager, Burton Japan LLC
“The number of people participating in snow sports is on a recovery trend both domestically and inbound, and it is important to take advantage of this opportunity.
I don’t know what to do or how to start decarbonizing. I believe that the Sustainable Resort Alliance (SRA), newly launched by POW JAPAN, will respond to this need.
Resorts that are committed to decarbonization will be chosen by snowboarders and skiers from both Japan and abroad who are looking for decarbonization, which will lead to revitalization of surrounding areas. We also support such a wonderful platform. ”
Mr. Takayuki Tsujii J League Executive Officer (Sustainability) / Former Patagonia Japan Branch Manager
“Climate change is a very complex issue in the sense that there are many stakeholders, its scope of influence is so wide that it extends to the entire planet, and it also leaves behind a great deal of trouble for future generations. What is needed to solve the problem is not just one great leader, but the leadership of all stakeholders.More snow resorts, companies, communities, and skiers need to understand the purpose of SRA. We sincerely hope that you will agree with us and support our activities.”
Emiko Kiyosawa, POW Ambassador/Former Japan National Alpine Skier/Ski Commentator
“When I went on my first summer trip to Europe 25 years ago, most of the ski resorts with glaciers were skiable and many people enjoyed summer skiing.Since then, I have been going on summer overseas trips every year. However, as time has passed, the glacier has visibly decreased, and the ski area has also decreased, leading to the closure of ski resorts.
Japan still has an environment where you can enjoy snow sports in the winter, but if things continue like this, in the near future it will be impossible to ski at ski resorts like in Europe due to a lack of snow, and the sport of skiing and snowboarding may eventually disappear.
We agree with ski resorts aiming to become sustainable resorts, and creating a sustainable snow sports world with our own hands is a step towards resolving the crisis.
I believe that this idea will become a movement that will change Japan as a whole. ”
A conversation article between POW ambassadors Kenji Kono and Aya Sato has been published on SNOW HEAVEN. Please take a look at the story that is the basis for the Sustainable Resort Alliance concept. https://snowheaven.jp/article/2839
[About POW JAPAN]
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