Skiing and Climate ChangeThe ski industry worldwide also faces a very real impact from global climate change. The poor snow experienced in Europe in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the erratic seasons since 2000 and seasons shifting later are potentially some of the first signs of change. The 2006/7 season saw the first ever cancellation of the Hahnenkamm downhill race in Kitzbühel in January due to lack of snow and much of Europe had little snow until February, however in contrast the 2008/9 was one of the best and particularly so for Austria and the Hahnenkamm was nearly cancelled due to too much snow!
Mountain areas are one of the most sensitive to climate change; throughout the world glaciers are receding and since 1850 Swiss glaciers have lost a quarter of their surface area, Other first order impacts are melting permafrost and floods some of which have already been experienced in the Alps in recent years, and these will have other economic and safety impacts. Melting permafrost, essentially frozen soil, is likely to increase the risk of landslides and raise the costs associated with anchoring and bracing cable car stations, lift pylons and other structures. Avalanches may also become more common due to inconsistent temperatures, increasing the risks to skiers and local communities as well as damage to infrastructure. The second order impacts will occur in mountain agriculture, mountain hydropower and, of course, mountain tourism. Climate change is a real threat to the snow sports industry and lower earnings in the winter season will have real economic impacts. The impacts will be felt far more in resorts at low altitudes and thus particularly in Austria, Germany and Italy where a majority of resorts are found below 1300m. However, even in Switzerland, which has a majority of resorts at higher altitudes, the impacts will be felt. The tourism industry is the third most important export industry for Switzerland providing 300,000 full time jobs – for the alpine area it is the most important source of income providing regional growth for the rural areas. Today, 85% of Switzerland’s 230 ski resorts can be considered snow reliable. If the line of snow reliability were to rise to 1500m as a result of climate change the number would drop to 63%. Therefore, with unpredictable snow levels 37% of resorts will have acute difficulties attracting overseas tourists. Experts have suggested that the tourism related losses facing a country like Switzerland due to climate change could be as high as $1.2 billion annually. It is for this reason that Europe has followed North America in investing so heavily in artificial snowmaking which offers a lifeline to ski resorts, however, it is controversial – see The Ski Factors: Artificial Snow for more information. Nonetheless, under climate change scenarios and current snowmaking technology, the average ski season would be expected to reduce by 7-32% by 2050s, without snowmaking this would be 37-57%. The other alternative, which is even less desirable is for the ski tourism industry to ‘climb’ up the mountains to reach more reliable ski areas and higher altitudes – which will put further pressure on sensitive environments. It could be argued that as a potential victim of global warming, the ski industry could focus on short term goals “to make the most of the industry whilst we still have it”. However, the ski industry is not just an alternative or supplementary source of income to communities, in many cases it is the sole source of income and enables the very viability of many mountain communities, thus protecting the industry will protect their way of life. Therefore, the ski industry and the mountain communities have a responsibility and self interest in taking action to combat climate change. They can take encouragement from the resilience and passion of skiers; in a recent survey it was found that during seasons of poor snow only 4% of skiers would give up, 49% would change to higher snow sure resorts and 32% might ski less often. Therefore ski resorts, like tourism destinations and indeed the public everywhere, need to do all they can to minimise their own impact on the environment, reduce energy consumption and look after the precious mountain environment. The beauty of the mountains is important for ski tourism (a recent survey found it to be the second most important factor for skiers) but imperative for summer tourism. It is arguable that in the face of climate change, some destinations such as the Mediterranean may become uncomfortably hot in summer and people may start considering the mountains for their summer holidays too. This is good news for the mountain economies but reinforces the requirement for the protection of the mountains as snow can cover up damage. However, what is equally important is to focus on local sourcing of supplies and developing and promoting a full range of outdoor and cultural activities. This will reduce dependency on downhill skiing and provide a wider range of employment options to create sustainable economies in the face of the changes that may be brought about by climate change. Responsible Skiing.com is dedicated to these goals – it is all about balancing the needs of today versus tomorrow and ensuring that the beauty of the mountains is protected for the enjoyment of generations to come. |  What do you think? Contribute to our discussion forum
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