Estelle Peyen (M99): “Desert Peoples Can Help Us Combat Climate Change”

Estelle Peyen (M99) is launching the XCSS Climate Can’t Wait project, which combines sport and immersion in desert communities to raise awareness of the climate change. She shares her vision with us.

ESSEC Alumni: What was your career path up until XCSS Climate Can’t Wait?

Estelle Peyen: I worked in a variety of roles in retail management, before retraining as a sports nutritionist. What I care about today is finding natural ways to support health and performance (sports, professional, artistic, etc.) while fighting against sedentary lifestyles – and more broadly to educate people about the interlinked challenges of well-being and the environment, to help create a world that’s sustainable, viable, and leaves room for hope.

EA: How does XCSS Climate Can’t Wait fit into this perspective?

E. Peyen: XCSS Climate Can’t Wait combines cross-country skiing and running (both on sand) on the one hand, and encounters with desert communities on the other. It’s part of an effort to highlight their way of life, so that we can draw lessons from them on how to adapt to the consequences of climate change, like rising temperatures, desertification, and public health in warm environments... The event will also shine the spotlight on our partners, and the researchers in particular, who are working to find solutions to these challenges.

EA: When will the first event be held? 

E. Peyen: The inaugural event is planned for the second quarter of 2022, in the Moroccan Sahara. We plan to hold one event every year, in a different desert each time. The aim is to launch more initiatives involving as many native communities and ecosystems as possible, and to create lasting links in terms of research, education, business, and culture. 

EA: Who can take part?

E. Peyen: Anyone can get involved, as long as they adhere to our charter and our values. The level of competition shouldn’t be an obstacle: we have organised two kinds of race, one “accessible”, and the other “challenging”. Registration is open to all, subject to presentation of a medical certificate and within the limit of 50 places. It’s not about physical prowess, but getting involved and taking action against climate change.

EA: What makes desert communities so well-placed to raise awareness of climate change amongst city-dwellers?

E. Peyen: By 2070, 19% of the planet will be experiencing the same extreme temperatures as the hottest parts of the Sahara do today. Living alongside these peoples in their natural environment, and sharing the experience through photos and documentaries, can send a strong message and help share knowledge and skills with those who will probably be needing them in the future.

EA: What exact lessons can we learn from desert communities? 

E. Peyen: Thrift and making things last, adaptability and resilience... These communities are used to living and surviving in a close relationship with their environment, and in very difficult conditions. They have had to develop safety strategies and resilience in order to survive despite the limited, or completely lacking, natural resources. Our urban societies will need to develop the same “mental armour” to live with climate change.

EA: And in the other direction, are desert peoples in need of outside help?

E. Peyen: We provide them with financial, medical, and technical support, especially with architecture and urban planning (to stop encroachment of the desert), and satellite imaging, to model natural areas that can be restored. Not to mention agricultural cooperation: the survival of these communities also depends on their knowledge of seed varieties.

EA: How far along is the XCSS Climate Can’t Wait project?

E. Peyen: Today, our team is made up of 15 volunteers (project management, communications, environmental impact, audiovisual, development, technical/sports, psychological preparation, etc.), along with 1 media partner and 1 sustainable equipment partner. We have already applied for the permits we need in Morocco, and in France we are in discussion with a number of representatives from the world of sport and education, as well as with agronomics and human biology researchers.

EA: What are your next deadlines?

E. Peyen: We have quite a few milestones to hit over the next few months: developing study protocols (life and earth sciences, psychology, climate research, exobiology, etc.), launching a communications campaign, creating and testing prototypes, sourcing partners, organising an immersive preparatory placement in France... the list goes on.

EA: How can our alumni support your project?

E. Peyen: Most of all, by talking about our initiative and sharing our posts on LinkedIn, to draw public attention to our cause! What’s more, as a non-profit association, we are always on the lookout for donors and sponsors and of course, anyone who’d like to join our team of volunteers is also welcome. And if you have any contacts in the research world, we’d love to hear from you! You can get in touch with us by email at xcss.climate@gmail.com.

EA: Are any other alumni already involved with XCSS Climate Can’t Wait? 

E. Peyen: François-Xavier Nottin (M05), president at Green Leaf Company, recommended our association to 1% for the Planet by committing to make his donation to us, which gained us recognition from the collective. And Alain Risbourg (B00), founder of Covivance and co-manager of the Company Transformation hub at ESSEC Transition Alumni, regularly shares our posts with his network. We’re very grateful to them!

Interview by Louis Armengaud Wurmser (E10), ESSEC Alumni Content Manager

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