Méribel’s environmental initiative

Méribel 2038, a collective project

In 2021, Les Allues commune chose to make a strong commitment to re-imagine the future of the valley, taking into account the current and future environmental challenges specific to the mountains. To do this, it brought together Méribel’s various institutions, residents and local businesses to reflect collectively. As a result, all the key players in the area have joined forces in a common initiative: Méribel 2038.
This initiative, which symbolically marks the resort’s 100th anniversary, goes far beyond a simple project. It’s a structured campaign that unites a series of concrete actions initially supported by 12 local stakeholders, rising to 19 by 2024.

4 strategic axes for progress

The aim is to redefine the way we see the mountains and their future. The initiative is intended to be progressive and perpetuating, creating an action plan that will evolve and adapt to new challenges. The aim of this collective effort, led by the Commune and its partners, is to shape the ecological and social transition of the valley while reducing the environmental footprint of the tourist industry.

Led by a committed group, Méribel 2038 has resulted in an initial operational plan for the period 2022-2025, comprising 110 actions divided into 4 strategic areas and 32 operational objectives.

Area 1: everyone is involved!

Méribel 2038 is founded on a partnership-based, cross-disciplinary approach that mobilises all the key players in the area: professionals, residents and institutional partners. This founding principle of the action plan encourages everyone to get involved and lays the foundations for effective governance that promote ecological and social transition. It also aims to raise awareness among our visitors of the importance of protecting our environment.

Area 2: Adopt a sustainable and low-carbon model

To protect the Vallée des Allues, it is essential to develop our economic model in a sustainable way and limit the impact of our tourist activities. This priority covers a wide range of actions aimed at reducing our greenhouse gas emissions, focusing on energy, transport, building renovation and public lighting, etc.

Area 3: Preserve biodiversity, natural areas and resources

This focusses on the sustainable management of our region’s natural resources, landscapes and biodiversity. Water, forests, waste, flora and fauna, as well as the management of public spaces, are some of the key issues to be addressed in this project.

Area 4: Living well in Les Allues

Méribel 2038 is first and foremost an initiative built with and for the area’s residents as well as its economic players. This focuses on actions linked to local development and planning, employment, housing, services available throughout the year, sustainable food and, more broadly, social and cultural issues.

The Flocon Vert certification

In 2023, the commune of Les Allues decided to apply for the Flocon Vert certification in order to bring external recognition to its initiative begun two years earlier, but also to strengthen and enhance certain major areas of its work by exchanging ideas with a network of holiday destinations and institutions.

The Méribel 2038 initiative is perfectly in line with many of the criteria of the Flocon Vert certification, which has made it possible not only to amplify the project, but also to evaluate the collective actions already underway.

The 4 major categories of criteria for the Flocon Vert certification are:

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Thanks to the alignment of these criteria and the work undertaken since 2020, Méribel was awarded two Flocons on first application in December 2024. This distinction highlights the quality of the work carried out previously, as well as the collective commitment of the partners involved.

What is the Flocon Vert (Green Snowflake) certification?

The Flocon Vert is an award scheme that verifies the sustainable commitment of mountain tourist destinations. Developed by the Mountain Riders association, this initiative supports regions in their ecological transition and offers mountain lovers a clear vision of destinations that adopt responsible tourism. By choosing a resort with the Flocon Vert award for your holiday, you are supporting environmentally aware tourism.

The specifications of the Flocon certification are based on 4 pillars with a total of 20 major criteria. Each destination is assessed on a scale from A to D and must achieve at least a B on all criteria to be awarded two flocons.

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4 pillars for immediate action

It is essential to have a starting point for identifying the priorities and actions required within each body. So in 2021, at the start of the Méribel 2038 collective project, each major partner in the initiative carried out a carbon assessment of its activity, including the town hall, the ski area operators and the tourist office.

This assessment, carried out by the specialist consultancy Damoe, enabled each of the main players to gain a better understanding of their specific challenges and to engage their employees in the initiative. At the same time, in-depth work was carried out by each partner organisation to draw up the action sheets for the first 2022-2025 operational plan.

This plan, structured around four key areas

includes more than 110 actions. Below are some concrete examples of how these actions have been implemented.

Every year, a progress report is drawn up on the actions undertaken, enabling each partner to monitor their progress and adapt or add new complementary actions if necessary.

How can I get involved as a holidaymaker?