Runners eager to take part in the renowned Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB) have their moment this Thursday, December 19, as pre-registrations open for various race categories, including the highly coveted UTMB, CCC, and OCC. The anticipation builds as applicants await news on January 16, when the lottery results will determine who gets to compete from August 25-31, 2024.
Alongside this excitement, environmental advocates are raising serious concerns about the ecological impact of the event. The association Protect Our Winter (POW) has launched a challenge to the UTMB organization, urging them to step up efforts to visibly reduce their environmental footprint. This challenge is particularly significant considering past controversies surrounding UTMB’s partnerships and the increasing scrutiny of major events and their sustainability practices.
POW has expressed concerns over UTMB’s collaboration with Dacia, which drew criticism. Recent changes have been seen, with the event now being sponsored by HOKA, aligning more closely with the trail event's spirit and commitments toward ecological initiatives. Earlier this week, UTMB announced its intentions to initiate substantial environmental action plans starting with the 2025 edition of the race.
Nevertheless, POW's leaders remain cautious. "If we welcome the intention from the major trail running circuit organizer, we must underline the lack of ambition shown so far," remarked POW representatives. The association stresses the urgent need for impactful measures, stating, "The transport emissions from the public attending UTMB events represent the bulk of their carbon footprint, and we must tackle this challenge head-on." Their critique emphasizes the importance and responsibility of large sports organizations to act as environmental stewards, citing the scale of UTMB and its potential influence on the outdoor sports sector.
Further underscoring their position, POW advocates are eager for dialogue. They encourage UTMB to set the standard within the trail running community and the broader sports event sector. A POW spokesperson stated, "UTMB has the ability to take the lead and demonstrate their commitment to sustainability, instead of being labeled as particularly underperforming." They have made it clear: should UTMB seek their support, they remain open to collaboration.
Alongside these discussions, UTMB's organizational team was quick to respond to POW's post, expressing their openness to work together to create effective environmental measures. They have already introduced several initiatives, such as the UTMB Mobility program, which reportedly avoided 200 tons of CO2 emissions during the last event.
Despite this progress, many observers are left wondering about the scale of additional CO2 emissions linked to the event. Mrs. Courtney Dauwalter, a prominent figure from the sport, continues to advocate for sustainability measures as the trail race approaches.
UTMB's commitment to the environment is commendable, but as the race draws nearer, many hope the organization heeds POW’s challenge and puts forth bolder, more comprehensive plans to address and mitigate their environmental impact. The direction UTMB takes this spring for their anticipated environmental strategy will undoubtedly be closely monitored by both competitors and advocates alike.
