We love to ski almost as much as we love the environment but there is an obvious conflict between the two. The two factors that most concern us most are the CO2 emissions from the travel and the air pollution from vehicles in the vulnerable mountain regions.
Looking into travelling to Mt Blanc, we found the following:
| Mode | Flying | Train | Driving Hybrid | Driving Electric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CO2 | 750kg | 50kg | 300kg | 208kg |
| Cost | £1047 | £1400 | £103 | n/a |
| Local Emmissions | hydrocarbons, CO, NOX, SOX and black carbon | No NOx / No particulates | reduced NOx / few particulates | No NOx / No particulates |
Taking the train is the clear winner, apart from when you consider the financial cost which is around £1400 for four people at peak time. The attractive solution would be to go by electric car which would be very cost effective and negate the tailpipe emissions that are causing the air quality issues in the Mt Blanc region.
In conclusion, the only way to significantly limit the impact of our ski holiday on the local environment is to take the train or hire an electric car.