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FGC Turisme works actively to reduce the carbon footprint in the environment. It is for this reason that, since 2018, it measures the direct and indirect emissions of Greenhouse Gases (GHG) generated by its activities and, in this way, can propose improvement actions in order to reduce its effect .

This season, during the celebration of the Ski Mountain World Championships on January 27 and 28 in Boí Taüll, the result of this event has been measured in terms of CO₂ emissions, in accordance with the requirements established in the GREENHOUSE GAS PROTOCOL that establishes the global framework for measuring and managing Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions.

Once the emissions produced have been monitored, and based on their activity data by emission source, the total result of the calculated GHG emissions expressed in equivalent tonnes of carbon dioxide (t CO₂ eq) has been as follows:

(*) Subministrament elèctric contractat amb Garantia d’Origen Renovable, per tant el resultat d’emissions és 0

(*) Electricity supply contracted with Guarantee of Renewable Origin, therefore the emissions result is 0

The results show that 97.7% of the indirect emissions mostly correspond to the mobility of the attendees, with a carbon footprint per attendee of 0.211 tCO₂e.

This control covers three categories of emissions: direct (Scope 1), which include combustion and fugitives; indirect imported electricity (Scope 2) which is the fully renewable guaranteed to FGC Turisme from 2019; and other indirect emissions (Scope 3), such as goods, services and transport.

After measuring and verifying the emissions produced, FGC Turisme compensates through CO₂ credits that the Catalan Climate Change Office makes available, with the aim of financing sustainable projects in the territory, thus closing the circle and realizing the objective of promoting sustainable events. This exercise began at the end of last year, when the impact of the winter season presentation event was measured. Once measured, FGC Turisme bought 200 CO₂ credits from the Catalan Office of Climate Change, intended for a bag of sustainable projects that the OCCC puts up for sale.

What is carbon footprint

The carbon footprint is the totality of GHG emissions produced. These gases are released into the atmosphere as a direct and/or indirect effect of the activity carried out by an organization, the provision of a service or the provision of a product, expressed in tonnes of CO₂equivalents.

The calculation of the carbon footprint allows quantifying the impact on the atmosphere as a first step to establish strategies for reducing emissions. In this case, the realization of an event of these characteristics consumes energy, products and services, generating more waste that produces a large volume of GHG emissions during its treatment. Estimating this amount of GHG emissions, proposing improvement actions to minimize this impact, together with compensation measures for GHG emissions through conservation, absorption and energy efficiency projects, makes it possible to value the environmental commitment of FGC Turisme, as well as evidence of responsible, ethical and transparent behaviour.

Sustainable resorts

Currently, practically all of the railway mountain stations have management and environmental quality systems that go hand in hand with compliance with the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (ODS) of the United Nations. In addition, they have Environmental Management Systems (SGA) based on the ISO 14001 Standard, to carry out a more transversal, efficient and dynamic management, following the FGC Tourism 2030 Climate Action Plan.

FGC Turisme, economic and sporting driver in Catalonia

Through a wide range of outdoor events and proposals designed for all audiences, the six Ferrocarrils mountain resorts become promoters of sport as a healthy activity. In fact, for years, FGC Turisme has maintained a firm commitment to the dissemination of physical exercise and competitions, as is the case of this Skimo World Cup, as well as the diversification of the offer in the open air at the mountain stations it manages.

La Molina, Vall de Núria, Espot Esquí, Port Ainé, Vallter and Boí Taüll enrich the experience in the Catalan Pyrenees and, at the same time, energize the territory, generating a great economic impact on the mountain valleys, thanks to their global proposal 365 days a year.