You may have seen Florian Fiquet’s videos, aka @flo_climatrek, in your Instagram feed recently. This summer, the 31-year-old committed adventurer notably crisscrossed the Pyrenees to raise awareness about the disappearance of glaciers in this mountain range, particularly affected by global warming. He told us how he became interested in climate activism, the result of a career change initiated on the HexaTrek, one of France's longest hiking trails, which spans over 3,000 kilometers across the country.
On social media, you define yourself as an eco-adventurer. What exactly does that mean?
It's a term that combines two aspects for me. On the one hand, carrying out adventure and travel projects aimed at raising ecological awareness about reducing one's environmental impact. But also, being a content creator on social media. Some might say "influencer". Whatever the case, I love sharing on social media, creating things. In short, I share my eco-adventures on social media.
When did you start your activity on social media?
That was two years ago, during my career change. I really created my Instagram page at that time. But I've always had, I think, this ease, and above all this pleasure, in creating content, making little edits, taking videos, photos, and ultimately managing the social media of the NGOs I worked for. Because while I was originally a project manager, I still ended up taking care of communication, the website, visibility, newsletters, and also social media. This was because these were not very large organizations. I developed most of these skills in the professional sphere originally.
What exactly did you do before you started on social media?
I worked for NGOs that defend human rights – I even worked for the UN. Everything revolving around geopolitics and international relations has always fascinated me. It still does, by the way. I touched on a bit of everything, both at the UN and then in an NGO where I was involved as a project manager: attending meetings, writing reports on specific topics we defended. Women's rights, children's rights, refugees, for example. But also organizing events, workshops, training sessions on UN mechanisms.
Then in 2022, I went abroad, notably to Jordan. There, it was more humanitarian work. I was part of a European program that sent people to the field, in direct contact with the people on site. That's when I entered the communication phase. The idea was to highlight what we were doing on the ground, the causes we were defending, the events we were organizing.
From what you've described, it sounds incredibly interesting. Why did you choose to change careers?
Indeed, it was cool. Especially since it was a path I had genuinely chosen, and which made sense to me. I was happy to evolve in that environment. However, I was sometimes a bit frustrated by the overly abstract side of it. When I was in Geneva, it was a lot of talk. And even in Jordan, there were a lot of procedures for a little bit of fieldwork. And I think there was also, very concretely, a desire to strike out on my own, doing my own projects, quite freely. Without having a lot of people around. Without having to go see this person, then that person, then wait for so-and-so to come back before making a decision.
And when did this dream of independence become a reality?
Late 2022, I'd say. I was living with my ex in Switzerland at the time. We had been together for 6 years. I left her, and my apartment. I really left everything. Then I went to Jordan, before returning to France. It was the first time I felt very light, very free actually. Even if it wasn't an easy period because I had no bearings anymore. But at the same time, the realm of possibilities opened up again. And it felt good to feel that. So, in 2023, in that state of mind, I set off to do the Hexatrek [3034 kilometers and 136,000 meters of elevation gain, editor's note] without really knowing where it would lead me, I admit. I still had a few ideas. Firstly, I wanted to share it on social media, meet people in the environmental field, see climate change with my own eyes, but above all, embark on a great adventure. The HexaTrek was the perfect hike for that. It was a formidable immersion in nature. I was often alone. It went extremely well. That's when I told myself: "You can do whatever you want if you really want to. So go for it, since you love doing this so much, try to see what happens next." And as luck would have it, after the HexaTrek, in October 2023, I came across the Sport Planète Maïf call for projects, which funds eco-adventures. I applied. And I was accepted. That launched the whole thing. Because it allowed me to see that I was good at doing things. And to gain confidence. The Hexatrek is still 3000 kilometers. You usually don't embark on it without having a little background in hiking...
I was far from being a hiking expert when I embarked on the HexaTrek. I had no idea if I would be able to finish it. Because before that, I had gone for ten days in the Alps in 2020 or 2019, on the GR5, with my ex at the time. Otherwise, I would go for day hikes, play sports, but without any particular expertise. People often come to me saying they want to do the HexaTrek but don't feel ready. But in fact, the itinerary is so long that you can really take the time to develop your hiking knowledge. [...] I chose France because I wanted to avoid flying, to not do an adventure in Australia or New Zealand, for ecological reasons. And besides, in France, there's so much to see. I wanted to go to small villages, in the Vosges, in the Pyrenees... to really take the time to discover these places.
You share your adventures on social media. But also reflections on environmental issues. Have you always had an ecological sensitivity?
More or less. As a kid, I had a huge sensitivity to nature. Because my parents were farmers. They had goats, made cheese in the south of France, north of Montpellier, at the foot of the Cevennes. The house was in the middle of nowhere, so I spent my time outside with my brother. That allowed me to develop a special relationship with nature. So much so that I don't feel super comfortable in the city. The ecological commitment came later. Even if my childhood was a fertile ground for it.
In 2022, I started reading, listening to podcasts, following people on social media. Camille Etienne, for example. Her discourse inspired me enormously. And so, gradually, as it came little by little, I started to get involved. I think it's important to say that it's not a sudden revelation. You have to do your research first. Everything was so logical that I wanted to put my work into it.
When you delve into environmental issues, it can be quite depressing, given the magnitude of what still needs to be done. But also, in terms of our powerlessness. How do you manage to maintain a positive state of mind?
I am quite positive, it's true. I believe that I transform eco-anxiety into action. And in fact, by embarking on projects related to ecology, I have never felt so happy with what I do. Because I clearly find meaning in it. So today, it's true that the news can be disheartening. At all levels. And since I am very optimistic by nature, I prefer to convey messages in a positive and joyful way. Because I think it will also be better received.
Do you plan to do another long-distance hike, similar to the HexaTrek?
Yes, I would like to do that again, because today I'm embarking on a lot of small projects. And it's great. Because it's my passion, it's incredible. But I would like to rediscover the sensations I had during the HexaTrek. I saw that in France there is a trail called "Le chemin sauvage" (The Wild Path). It's 4000 kilometers long. We're not in the mountains, unlike the HexaTrek. But more in wild, truly rural France. You start in Brittany, go down towards the Pyrenees. Then you go up the entire "diagonale du vide" (empty diagonal) to the Ardennes. I would like to do that, maybe in 2026.