The mountains give us so much. What can we give back?

Why a stronger local community is part of protecting the future of Morzine

There are plenty of reasons to fall in love with Morzine. The first snowfall, the summer trails, the views that still make us stop in our tracks. But what makes this valley special goes beyond the mountains: it’s the people who call it home.

At Montagne Verte’s annual general meeting on 3 November, AliKats co-founder Alastair Judge spoke frankly about the changes facing our valley and the role we can all play in its future. His message was serious, but full of possibility.

The changes are already on our doorstep

According to figures Alastair shared in his speech, the valley recorded 19 days above 30°C across the entire 1980s. In 2026 alone, there were 22. It’s a striking local comparison, and one that makes a changing climate feel anything but distant.

The wider picture is clear too. The European Environment Agency reports that temperatures in the Alps have risen at more than twice the global average rate. Warmer seasons and pressure on water resources are increasingly part of life in mountain communities.

Alastair described how the water supply to his street in Saint-Jean-d’Aulps stopped for around twelve hours this August. Everything else carried on as normal, but one everyday service suddenly wasn’t there. It was a reminder of how much we rely on systems that we rarely think about.

Resilience starts with people

Collecting food waste or buying second-hand clothes won’t, by itself, reverse a warming climate. Alastair’s bigger point is about resilience: as changing weather puts pressure on water, food, livelihoods and tourism, the valley needs to be better equipped to adapt. That means neighbours who know one another, practical skills shared locally and a community that can work together when things become difficult. This is where Montagne Verte’s work becomes especially meaningful.

Its second-hand friperie keeps clothes in use and creates a welcoming place to meet, with a second shop planned for Les Gets. BioCyclette collects food waste by bicycle, while local composting and community events bring people together around practical ways to waste less and look after the valley.

These initiatives reduce waste today, but they also strengthen the connections and habits we may rely on tomorrow. A friperie is both a way to reuse clothes and a place where neighbours meet. Composting builds local knowledge and helps return nutrients to the soil. Community events create room for honest conversations and collective action. That’s the bridge between living more sustainably and building a valley that is ready for change.

A place to visit, a place to care for

Morzine is where Alastair and Kat have built AliKats, raised their family and welcomed guests from around the world. The business is part of a much wider community of local producers, independent businesses and people who make mountain life possible.

As visitors, we can all play a small part too: choosing local businesses, buying thoughtfully, respecting the natural environment and getting to know the people behind the place we’ve come to enjoy.

The future of the mountains matters to everyone who loves them. And as Alastair reminded the community, a stronger future is built through many people each doing a little.

The mountains bring us here. The community makes this place special. Let’s look after both.

Discover Montagne Verte

Find out about its projects, events and ways to get involved: montagneverte.org