For 3 years, and in a bid to raise awareness of environmental issues, Estelle Peyen (M99) has been leading the XCSS Climate Can’t Wait initiative, which combines sports competitions and encounters with populations who are particularly impacted by climate change. The theme of the 2024 edition, organised in France and Kazakhstan, is the water crisis. 

ESSEC Alumni: What actions do you lead in the context of XCSS Climate Can’t Wait?

Estelle Peyen: XCSS Climate Can’t Wait uses the federating driver of sport to call for action on the environmental emergency. Each edition is organised around a week of cross-country skiing on sand in a host country, which offers a pretext to meet and share good practices for adaptation with populations who are particularly impacted by climate change. We also organise awareness operations including the making of a documentary. Beyond this event, however, we organise activities all year round via a non-profit, 1% for the Planet-approved body, XCSS Cross Country Skiing Sand. Events include seminars, screenings, debates, workshops and training, or participation in forums and international congresses. We are thus aligned with the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration and are recognised by the UN Climate Change Secretariat as an observation organisation. The support of figure-skating champion Gwendal Peizerat as project sponsor also ties us to Olympic values.

EA: What can you tell us about the first two editions of XCSS Climate Can’t Wait?

E. Peyen: The 2022 and 2023 editions focused on Morocco, in cooperation with the Saharan oasis village of Hassilabiad, for which we led several concrete, local actions, such as promoting local craftwork to limit rural exodus, guiding women towards economic empowerment through the development of income-generating activities, training inhabitants in eco-farming practices for food security, or contributing to the rehabilitation of the natural ecosystem and restoring plant cover to fight against the spread of the desert and soil depletion. Our aim is to perpetuate these advances, notably by pursuing our partnerships with the institutions who supported us on site: INRA Morocco, Engie North Africa and ESSEC Africa, etc.

EA: What is the programme for the third XCSS Climate Can’t Wait?

E. Peyen: This time, we’re turning to Kazakhstan, which is sharing a rich and symbolic year with France in terms of both sport and the environment. Paris is hosting the Olympic Games, while Astana is welcoming the World Nomad Games. Both countries are jointly coordinating the One Water Summit. This formed the perfect pretext to devote this latest edition of XCSS Climate Can’t Wait, which is inherently associated with arid, desert environments, to the issue of water and the preservation of aquatic ecosystems. To illustrate the theme, our sport and solidarity week will take place on the banks of Lake Balkhash, from 16 to 24 May. Don’t hesitate to contact me for a more detailed programme. 

EA: What message do you hope to convey?

E. Peyen: The water crisis is a global concern. The combination of climate change and anthropic impacts has multiple consequences on the availability and accessibility of this resource, disrupting the natural water cycle, weakening plant cover and depleting soil, polluting and drying out reservoirs, etc. According to the World Resources Institute’s Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas, a quarter of the world’s population is now facing extreme annual water stress, and half at least one month per year. Some predict this figure could reach 60% by 2050. Water should be a right, not a privilege. 

EA: What solutions to these issues do you hope to put forward with XCSS Climate Can’t Wait?

E. Peyen: Firstly, we want to disseminate the concept of water footprint, which is overlooked in the climate change narrative, yet we believe is as important as carbon footprint. Next, we will rally players in the fields of agro-ecology, agro-forestry, agro-tourism, food, sustainable development, geography and environmental science, and coordinate local and international cooperation. Lastly, and above all, in keeping with our DNA, we will draw on the experience of communities who have survived for decades in arid environments. The khettaras come to mind for instance. These traditional and secular underground irrigation systems beneath the Sahara supply water to oasis and villages, and are based not only on ingenious techniques but also on solidarity and sharing, making each member of the community responsible for the viability of the group. Our urban civilisations would do well to apply the same principles to their natural resource management and governance. 

EA: Sports events are regularly criticized for their environmental impact. What measures do you take to reduce the carbon footprint of XCSS Climate Can’t Wait?

E. Peyen: Our KPI include the UN Sustainable Development Goals n°2, 3, 5, 11, 12, 13 and 17, as well as n° 6 i.e., ‘guarantee universal access to sustainably managed water supply and sanitation services’, which is obviously a key focus point for us. We therefore prioritise equipment designed with artisans or which include recycled and/or organic materials. Our one-size wooden skis can be used with all types of shoes to limit the volume of equipment. On site, we consume non-processed local produce in its raw state, cooked traditionally to reduce packaging and waste. We also use encourage reusable water bottles, and show participants where to fill up in areas where the water is not always drinkable. In general, we always organise a systematic consultation with local communities on preserving their natural environments.

EA: In addition to the upcoming 3rd edition, what are your aims for XCSS Climate Can’t Wait?

E. Peyen: Upcoming projects include interventions in schools and inciting all sport stakeholders to adapt or reinvent their activity and equipment in the aim of preserving water resources. For example, we’d like the ski sector to cease the use of artificial snow. And of course we’re also already preparing our fourth edition for 2025. 

EA: How can alumni support XCSS Climate Can’t Wait?

E. Peyen: You can lend us your expertise, help fund us via your company’s sponsorship or by making a personal donation (eligible for tax discounts), and by relaying our action and joining our organisation. Thank you!

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

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