" Snowing ski resorts by helicopter is not a possible route ," ruled Sunday February 16 the Minister for Ecological Transition Elisabeth Borne, after the Haute-Garonne decision to dump snow by helicopter on the resort. Luchon-Superbagnères.
" We will bring together with Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne (Secretary of State for Tourism and Foreign Trade) the actors concerned in the coming days, " she added in a tweet.
The perimeter of this consultation, which will take place during the week, is not yet precisely fixed, it should in any case bring together those responsible for the ski area of France, it was said this Sunday at his office. The minister's message was clear with this tweet: it was a question of putting a quick stop, because it is not possible to repeat such highly polluting operations, wanted to emphasize one of his advisers at the AFP.
Read also: Pyrenees: in the absence of snow, Luchon-Superbagnères will seek it by helicopter
This meeting also aims to seek solutions for local elected officials, snow transport by trucks being also problematic, according to the same source.
In order to compensate for the lack of snow in the Pyrenean resort, the Haute-Garonne departmental council had taken a spectacular step, by delivering snow by helicopter on certain sections on Friday February 14 and Saturday February 15. It took two and a half hours by helicopter to transport some 50 tonnes of snow. The cost is estimated between 5000 and 6000 euros, but " in terms of return on investment, it must multiply at least by 10 ", had justified the joint union overseeing this station.
Read also: Global warming: what future for ski resorts?
According to the union, between 50 and 80 people will be able to work thanks to this operation: station staff, but also monitors, equipment rental companies, restaurateurs.
The initiative, which is very expensive and not very ecological in terms of CO2 emissions, has aroused a wave of very critical reactions in the media, while the government is putting forward the environmental priority to reduce CO2 emissions.
