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Following the success of the inaugural FIS Seminar in 2024, the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) is organizing its second edition on 5 May 2025 which will focus on the growing importance of environmental sustainability.

The FIS Seminar 2025 on Bridging the Gaps: Building Inclusive Sports Leadership Together – Edition 2 will highlight Nature and Biodiversity Protection and Restoration, with sports organizations playing a pivotal role in protecting nature.

The event, which runs on Monday 5 May, will be hosted at the Tivoli Marina Vilamoura Algarve Resort in Portugal and is aimed at leaders and/or sustainability experts of National Ski Associations (NSAs) and Local Organizing Committees (LOCs) with a maximum of two attendees per organization.

Under the leadership of FIS Sustainability Director Susanna Sieff, it is organized in partnership with Sport4Nature, a joint initiative of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), International Olympic Committee (IOC), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), and Dona Bertarelli Philanthropy.

The objective of the seminar is to offer specialist insight as well as facilitating discussions to help deepen understanding of the practical implications of incorporating sustainable practices at both National Ski Associations and Local Organizing Committees levels.

"As we continue to raise awareness about the importance of sustainability, it is essential to offer educational activities, such as this Seminar, that are linked to tangible projects our FIS Family is actively working on, particularly in areas like nature protection and restoration,” said Sieff.

Sharing this progress and achievements with others is crucial to driving meaningful change within the community, helping everyone understand that it is possible to move forward, reduce environmental impact, and enhance environmental protection. In our work as guides and motivators, I strongly believe in activating peer-to-peer projects and collaborating with other recognized organizations, such as Sport4Nature, to strengthen the substance and impact of our efforts.– Susanna Sieff, FIS Sustainability Director

The seminar comprises expert presentations, a focus on nature responsibility at a local level and a mapping relationship with nature by Sports4Nature.

Following a Lunch Fair, the 2024/25 FIS Nature and Biodiversity Protection and Restoration Award will be presented to recognize and reward innovative projects that protect and enhance nature and biodiversity in winter sports.

The award winner will be selected by a jury consisting of a representative of the Sports4Nature Initiative, a FIS athlete ambassador as well as a representative of FIS management and seminar participants.

They will receive a trophy, certificate, and promotion through FIS channels, showcasing their commitment to sustainability and 3,500 € to support future initiatives.

Seminar Registration

Register by 25 February 2025: Register here

Hotel Reservations

Register by 1 March 2025: Register here

Green Sports Alliance Summit will be held at the InterContinental Miami in Miami, Florida, from June 10th to June 12th.

As we strive to make our venues, teams, and communities more resilient in the face of climate change, the 2025 Green Sports Alliance Summit invites you to join us in Miami. Come prepared to share and compare plans with your peers, so we can all level up. Together, let's say, "Game On 2030."

Click here to register

Register for our Reuse Symposium at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter in Portland, Oregon, on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. The Rip City Reuse program has prioritized reusable service-ware since 2022. We invite you to join us in sharing best practices, addressing challenges, and learning how you too can adapt circularity systems within your organization. 

Join us the night before at the Portland Trail Blazers' March 17th "Green Game." Symposium attendees receive a discounted ticket to the game. 

Students receive 60% off discount ($100 to register).

Click here to register

We are excited to announce our upcoming webinar: “The Implications of Glacial Melt on Alpine Sports,” hosted by the Sustainable Mountain Alliance and the Kilian Jornet Foundation as part of the official launch of the International Year of Glacier’s Preservation 2025, a global initiative supported by UNESCO and the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO).

About the International Year of Glacier’s Preservation 2025

The United Nations has declared 2025 as the International Year of Glacier’s Preservation to raise global awareness about the critical role glaciers play in regulating the global climate, providing freshwater, and supporting ecosystems that sustain billions of people. As climate change accelerates, glaciers are melting at an alarming rate, threatening water supplies, ecosystems, and the future of alpine sports and mountain tourism.

“In my short lifetime, I’ve seen glaciers disappear. That’s only an example of the scale of human’s impact on Earth. We can’t fight nature because we’re nature but by working together we can make a positive impact on the planet.” – Kilian Jornet 

Webinar focus and key topics

This webinar will explore the impact of glacial melt on alpine sports such as skiing, alpinism, and ice climbing. We will examine how shrinking glaciers are affecting alpine sports and the challenges faced by athletes, sports organisations, the mountain tourism industry and rescue services. Expert insights on risk awareness, adaptation, mitigation, education and the urgent need to protect mountain ecosystems will also be covered, providing valuable insights into the impact of glacier melt and sharing strategies to address this issue. 

Speakers

• Dr. Jean-Baptiste Bosson, Glaciologist, geomorphologist and founder of Marge Sauvage
• Susanna Sieff, Sustainability Director, International Ski Federation (FIS) 
• Dominique Perret, Extreme ski legend and founder of WeMountain
• Blaise Agresti, Mountain guide and co-founder of Mountain Path
• Fernando Iglesias Letelier, Mountain Scientist and Chairperson of the International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation (UIAA) International Year of Glacier’s Preservation Working Group and Executive Director of the Andean Conservancy NGO.

Stay tuned for our detailed speaker announcements, which will be shared on our Instagram and Linkedin.

Event Details:

When: January 21st, 2025

Where: Online (Zoom): https://us04web.zoom.us/j/75311205151

Time: 12:00 – 13:00 (CET)

Registration: Click here to register to the webinar

Discover more about the International Year of Glacier’s Preservation and the efforts to protect glaciers and mountain ecosystems: Visit the official website

See the list of official launch events

Join us for this important webinar and help protect the future of alpine sports and glacier preservation!