Climate Change protests at the Tour De France 2022
Lac Du Chambon at the foot of Col De Sarenne on the way home via Lauteret one evening in late March
The coverage of the recent climate change protests in Stage 10 of the TDF have highlighted how far we have to go in shifting public opinion on climate change. It seems our policy makers still don’t think it’s important enough and the protestors want to make sure we aware of that by seemingly any means.
The protest for those that didn’t see it, saw climate change protesters chain themselves to the road surrounded by pink smoke grenades. Much like they did at the F1 at the weekend. The competitors forced to weave dangerously to avoid them, and then a stop to the race. All on TV.
Now, that’s not to say I support the means (especially not when it endangers lives and interrupts a competition I adore) but the message is an important one. I was also surprised by some of the response from the Cycling Community.
The direct action The Derniere Renovation Group are engaging in counts on thousands of eyes seeing it at these massive events and the disruption and uproar guarantees coverage. This may well be inconvenient to event organisers, dangerous to competitors and irritating to some fans, but the controversy itself and ensuing debate will draw attention to an issue that will this weekend see UK temperatures hit almost 40 degrees. Not in Dubai. Here.
That’s not weather, that’s climate change and we have to stop conflating the two. And take the threat seriously.
The road down to Serre Chevalier Vallee, taken from Embrum direction
Before you jump into the comments to tell me how cycling isn’t the right place for this, consider this… today the race almost passes by Les Deux Alps, home to Europe’s largest Skiable glacier. It’s usually open throughout the summer for skiing until the end of August. Many of you will have ridden past it or have heard of it, thanks to it’s proximity to it’s perhaps more well known (in cycling at least) neighbour, Alpe D’Huez.
This weekend it closed early for the first time in years, thanks to a lack of snowfall and higher than average temperatures.
Further, as you see the riders descend Galibier into Serre Chevalier to tackle Granon today, you may well see more outrageously beautiful permafrost and glaciers nestled in the North Facing slopes of the adjacent mountains. Glacier De Lauteret, and others, protected land in the Ecrins National Park.
They are foreboding sights but despite the protections we’re failing them thanks to inaction on Climate Change and they’re smaller than they used to be. A lot smaller. And this is the case all over the Alps, with numerous reports showing Alpine glaciers are a massive 40% smaller since 1960.
By 2100 some experts are predicting that the glacial chain in the Alps (which has been in place since the ice age) could be completely gone.
It’s not make believe either. Records also show temperatures in the Alps at large have climbed 2% in recent years, outpacing the mean rise in temperatures elsewhere meaning the very landscape we covet most is at serious risk of changing more dramatically, and faster than elsewhere.
Staggeringly, the snow season is already over a month shorter below 2000 meters since 1971. That’s having massive impacts already both economically, and ecologically.
Climate stability in the mountains doesn’t just support our love of cycling right there too. The impacts are felt all over Europe. The headwaters for the Rivers; Rhine, Rhone, Inn and Po comes direct from the mountains we love riding and runs all the way down to The North, Mediterranean, Adriatic and Black Seas.
Supporting life in the rivers, drinking water, food and renewable production all over Europe.
Every government in the G20 is plainly ignoring the global scientific consensus at worst and cherry picking convenient new policies whilst barely paying lip service to the challenge at best.
Regardless of your own knowledge of available solutions, does anyone sane really think asking higher rate tax payers to trade in the Disco’ so they can do the School run in a Tesla is actually enough?
Looking at the comments sections in the online Cycling Press covering the incident, it seems many of us do feel we’re doing enough. Some (perhaps understandably to an extent after the doom and gloom of the pandemic) are just sick of hearing about the subject, and want the whole debate to go away, as if the issues might go with it.
It just won’t though.
The most insidious of the comments seem to come from people who are affronted that Cycling has been targeted. Repeatedly people are seen in the comments, attacking or dismissing the protests on the completely deluded grounds that cycling (at World Tour level) is “already green”. It plainly isn’t.
Yes, some of us are motivated to don team kits and jump on the latest road bike for the ride to the office, and perhaps that removes a few journeys that might otherwise be made by car and I can see how someone could argue that perhaps World Tour racing plays a part in that but that absolutely doesn’t offset the impact of the activities of both the industry and the Sport at large. Or more importantly, the inaction of our politicians on the bigger issues.
For me the protest and and the antipathy shown in many of the responses to it feels like too many of us are driving along, tone death in ludicrous mode, hooning away from the responsibility with nonchalant looks on our faces as if we’re already doing our best. Oblivious to the destruction we are complicit in.
The incursion by the protestors was undoubtedly dangerous. And disruptive. But, it was on a straight, clear stretch of road, 36km from the end of Stage 10. Rather than arguing amongst ourselves, we need to be just as outraged at our politicians and let them know they must work harder and faster to prevent the disaster the protesters are trying so desperately to warn us all about.
I don’t support the methods (of the protesters). But I do support their cause, because it’s our collective cause and I believe we all should try and listen to their message. Whilst perhaps, being a little more patient, so we can respond with greater kindness and understanding, whilst pausing to reflect on what more we can all do together to tell our politicians to halt, reverse or mitigate the damage we can all see ahead.
If you are not moved by their actions, at the very least take a look at the views broadcast from the many helicopters circling over the National Park and summit of Granon today during the Tour coverage. You can see the glaciers I’ve mentioned here in the background (and their obviously shrinking volume) behind the visual popcorn of the 22 or so team entourages who each bring 16 or so cars and trucks to support the riders as they pass through The Serre Chez Vallee today.
Regardless of if you disapprove of the medium, I believe we can no longer ignore the message. And, we can all play a conscious and meaningful role in that, if we want to.
And perhaps if we did, these kids won’t feel the need to interrupt our bike race.
