Issues
Glaciers cover 10% of the planet’s land surface and play a fundamental role in the freshwater cycle, the oceans, climate regulation, preservation of biodiversity and water resources. As a result of climate change, glaciers are retreating all over the world, giving rise to tens of thousands of square kilometres of new terrestrial ecosystems (lakes, rivers, wetlands, etc.) that are refuges for biodiversity. Nearly 14,000 lakes have appeared on Earth in de-glaciated areas over the last thirty years, and nearly 80,000 new lakes could appear in the next few years. These post-glacial ecosystems have a key role to play in most of the major challenges of the 21st century, such as access to fresh water, carbon capture and the preservation of biodiversity. Against a backdrop of climate disruption and an increase in extreme weather events, it is important to better protect not only glaciers but also the ecosystems that will follow them. Only 30% of the world’s glaciers are protected.
Actions
Armelle Courtois and Martin Thomas, both professional athletes in kitespeed and canoe slalom respectively, met through a shared passion: kitesurfing. Between 2020 and 2021, they led three successive expeditions, in the Alps, the Andes and the Himalayas, to kitesurf on the highest lakes in the world, ranging in altitude from 2,500 meters to more than 5,400 meters. Most of these glacial lakes are not yet recorded on maps, but are appearing now due to the retreat of the glaciers. Their Riding to Explore project combines an extreme sporting challenge with environmental awareness, through documentaries for the general public and ‘Sport for Future’ events for top athletes.
After their first documentary, Sous le vent des glaciers, which was shot in the Alps in late 2020, their second documentary One Degree°, supported by the Mirova Foundation, follows their expeditions to the Andes (early 2021) and the Himalayas (late 2021).
This documentary highlights the consequences of glacier retreat for the climate, water resources and local populations. It features contributions from glaciologists such as Jean-Baptiste Bosson, World Heritage Officer for the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) and leader of the Ice & Life research programme on the impact of melting glaciers in the Alps, which is also supported by Mirova Foundation.
In 2022, Armelle Courtois and Martin Thomas decided to go a step further in raising awareness of the environmental cause in the world of sport by creating the Sport for Future event. This event has become a reference event in France, bringing together committed personalities and sportsmen and scientists, such as glaciologists Heïdi Sevestre and Jean-Baptiste Bosson. The opportunity for athletes to understand climate issues, to raise awareness of their communities and give them keys to act on their scale.
Key figures
Our support
- Financial support for the production of the second documentary, One Degree°, following the expeditions to the Andes and Himalayas.
- Outreach and advocacy: organisation of two private screenings and production of a photo exhibition “Extreme sport to raise awareness of glacier melt” presented during the ChangeNow Summit and the Agir pour le Vivant Festival in 2023, and during the So Good MAIF Festival in 2024.
- Financial support for the 2024 and 2025 editions of Sport for Future.