FIS Climate Action Awards Winners Celebrated in Geneva

The second edition of the FIS Climate Awards benefited from the perfect stage to celebrate National Ski Associations, Local Organizing Committees and athletes for their commitment to climate action.  

The winners were announced on Tuesday at a ceremony in Geneva, where FIS Family representatives from around the world are gathered for the FIS Autumn Meetings.

“Sustainability is a joint effort ─ there are no two ways about it,” says FIS President Alexander Ospelt during his introductory speech. “It is work that only makes a true difference when carried out collectively, by everyone, which is why we should be proud of this evening,” ponders Ospelt, echoing the words of FIS Sustainability Director Susanna Sieff. 

The Awards 

The winners of the FIS Climate Awards were voted on by a jury comprising experts from across different areas: 

• Lindita Xhaferi-Salihu, Sports for Climate Action Lead, UN Climate Change (UNFCCC) 

• Mads Astrup Rønning, Founder & Head of International Operations, Green Producers Club 

• Verena Stuffer, FIS Athletes' Commission Co-Chair and member of the FIS Council as an Athlete Representative 

• Frithjof Hübert, Head of Sustainability & Society, Bækkelagets Sportsklub / Norway Cup 

• Susanna Sieff, FIS Sustainability Director and Jury Chair 

The awards were split into three categories: Local Organizing Committees, athletes, and National Ski Associations.

Having reduced their total emissions by 21.6% in comparison to the previous year and emissions per spectator by 39.1%, Val Gardena (Alpine, Italy) received from FIS Secretary General Urs Lehmann the medal for Best LOC, overcoming the other two finalists: Crans-Montana (Alpine, Switzerland) and Ljubo (Ski Jumping, Slovenia), which earned a special mention for the openness and detail of its reporting. After two seasons of measuring emissions, Ljubno provided the highest proportion of data collected directly by organizers among the finalists. 

Presented by a star skier in her own right, FIS Strategy and Public Affairs Director Alexandra Meissnitzer, the Best Athlete category showcased the breadth of different ways how the stars of snow sports can drive positive change, with Marion Thénault (Canada, Aerials) winning the award thanks to her endeavors of cutting her personal carbon footprint from 27.8 to 16.5 tCO₂e. Also, her study of the Aerials World Cup calendar identified a route that could save 3,971 km of travel and 73 tCO₂e across the tour. 

The other two finalists were Björn Sandström (Sweden, Cross-Country), for his work in reducing emission of the Smart Energy Cup and in mobilizing the athlete community to end fossil fuel sponsorship, and Chloé Trespeuch (France, Snowboard Cross), for having built the educational program Bouger pour un Écoglobe, reaching more than 400 primary school children. 

The Best NSA award was a close contest between four finalists that have been setting a high standard in terms of controlling their CO₂ emissions. With their FIS CO2 Calculator data having been independently double-verified, their in-house expertise growing year after year, and their reduction plan that reaches all the way down to clubs and regional committees, France received the FIS Climate Award from President Ospelt. 

Sweden earned a special recognition for having been measuring their emissions every year since 2020. Since its 2021/22 baseline, emissions have fallen by 15%, and the federation aims to reduce emissions by a further 38% by 2029/30. Germany and Norway rounded out the list of finalists. 

Viessmann Combined For Change Award 

Besides the FIS Climate Award, the evening set the stage for Nordic Combined Local Organizing Committees to be recognized for their sustainability work throughout the 2025/26 season with the Viessmann Combined For Change Award.  

Three organizers were voted on as finalists: 

• Holmenkollen (Norway): Recorded emissions using the FIS CO₂ Calculator, covering an estimated 80–90% of event activities. Around 80% of this data came directly from organizers and suppliers. 

• Otepää (Estonia): Collected emissions data covering an estimated 70–80% of event activities. A dedicated Sustainability Coordinator has also been appointed to help turn each season’s findings into plans to cut emissions for the next event. 

• Trondheim (Norway): Measured emissions for a second year. Under its Zero New Procurement approach, emissions from purchases declined from the previous year to 3.7 kg CO₂e from the previous. Reusing volunteer clothing and equipment also avoided an estimated 0.5 tCO₂e. 

Two trophies were handed out in Geneva, with Otepää, Estonia, winning for Best Use of the FIS CO₂ Calculator and Trondheim, Norway, celebrated for Best Reduction in Greenhouse Gas Emissions.