Open letter to FIS President Eliasch: Greenpeace International demands real climate protection instead of selling indulgences

2023-04-24 05:01:06

Eliasch has to stop greenwashing and stop CO₂ compensation by the FIS – environmental protection organization supports climate protection initiative of 500 professional athletes

Amsterdam/Wien (OTS) – Greenpeace International calls on FIS President Eliasch and the Council of the International Ski Association in an open letter ( to put an end to CO₂ compensation. In order to offset its greenhouse gas emissions – for example through long flights – the international ski association is currently relying on compensation projects and describes itself even as climate-positive. From Greenpeace’s point of view, this is pure greenwashing. The environmental protection organization is therefore demanding that FIS President Eliasch stop this sale of indulgences before the next season and take real climate protection measures. Greenpeace is thus standing side by side with over 500 professional Winter sports enthusiasts – including Ski World Cup record holder Mikaela Shiffrin or Aleksander Aamodt Kilde – who support the climate protection initiative of ÖSV ski racer Julian Schütter.

“Instead of making winter sports fit for the future, the FIS under President Eliasch is fueling its downfall. CO₂ compensation payments are nothing but brazen greenwashing,” says Adam Pawloff, program director at Greenpeace in Austria. A look at the alpine ski racing calendar shows that the FIS under Eliasch knowingly ignores the signs of the times: Not just once, but even twice a season, the athletes and their teams, including their equipment, will fly across the Atlantic to various races. “It is not enough that Eliasch sells indulgences with his compensation projects. He throws another log into the fire and thereby destroys the very basis of the FIS’s existence: White Winters”, says Pawloff.

Global CO₂ emissions are skyrocketing at record speed, fueling the climate crisis. The Alpine region has been hit harder than average by global warming: our glaciers are shrinking rapidly. Last year, the glacier receded by an average of 28.7 meters – that’s a whole 11 meters more than in the previous year. Several races from the past Ski World Cup season had to be canceled due to a lack of snow. “Instead of relying on non-transparent CO₂ compensation projects and sending the athletes around the world twice despite the escalating climate crisis, it is time to pull the emergency brake. Eliasch and the FIS must adapt the race calendar and ensure that the races are scheduled in such a way that travel and associated emissions are reduced to a minimum,” demands Pawloff. Athletes who have more rest periods and training time also benefit from this.

Not only Greenpeace, but also numerous professional athletes sharply criticize the ignorance of the FIS under President Eliasch. More than 500 professional winter athletes – including Ski World Cup record holder Mikaela Shiffrin or Aleksander Aamodt Kilde – support the climate initiative of ÖSV ski racer Julian Schütter to the international ski association: In a letter they demand that emissions be halved by 2030 in accordance with science and complete transparency in climate protection measures.

You can find Greenpeace’s open letter to FIS President Eliasch and the council members here: https://act.gp/3GXIxng

The open letter from the athletes can be found here:

Questions & contact:

Adam Pawloff
program director
Greenpeace in Austria
Tel.: [phone]
E-Mail: [e-mail]

Stella Haller
press secretary
Greenpeace in Austria
Tel.: + 43 (0)664 88 17 22 09
Email: [e-mail]

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