Paris, 25 April 2025 – During the ChangeNOW Summit on April 24-26, 2025, in Paris, the Sustainable Mountain Alliance joined forces with ChangeNOW and the Mountain Change Makers network to fast-track solutions for our planet’s most fragile ecosystems — gathering a powerful community of mountain innovators, sustainability champions, and leaders from the world of sport to accelerate action for mountain ecosystems.
Held at the Grand Palais in Paris, the Mountain MeetUp and private events offered an exclusive forum for those on the frontlines of climate action to exchange ideas, build alliances, and design solutions specifically for mountainous regions — areas that are among the most vulnerable to global warming yet are crucial to the planet’s health.
The sessions brought together:
- Mountain change makers working on conservation, biodiversity restoration, sustainable tourism, and circular economy models,
- Elite sport leaders leveraging the influence of sport to drive environmental action and awareness,
- Experts, innovators, and scientists developing new tools for monitoring, protecting, and regenerating mountain environments.
Olympic champion and president of the COJOP (Organizing Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games) for the 2030 Winter Olympics in the French Alps, Edgar Grospiron lent his voice to our mission, elevating the call for action in the Alps and beyond in preparation for the Winter Olympic Games in France in 2030.
Also present was Eric Fournier, Mayor of Chamonix and a leading advocate for mountain sustainability, who reaffirmed his strong support for La Nuit des Glaciers and its mission to raise awareness and inspire action to protect the world’s glaciers.
Eric Piolle, Mayor of Grenoble, Heidi Sevestre, Glaciologist and SMA Board Members, Marie Sallois, Director of Sustainable Development at the International Olympic Committee, Mat Classe, Co-President of Mountain Riders, Antoin Pin, President of POW France were also actively involved.
Through private meet-ups and hands-on workshops, they:
- Shared cutting-edge insights on biodiversity regeneration
- Aligned on game-changing strategies for sustainable tourism
- Laid groundwork for the Olympic Winter Games 2030
“This Mountain MeetUp was a pivotal moment,” said Anne-Cecile Turner, President of the Sustainable Mountain Alliance. “It showed that when we unite communities, businesses, athletes, and environmental leaders around a shared love for mountains, we can create powerful momentum for positive change.”
Participants discussed collaborative projects, upcoming events, and funding opportunities to scale nature-positive initiatives. The Sustainable Mountain Alliance emphasized the urgent need to rethink development models in mountain regions — moving from extraction and overuse toward regeneration and resilience.