The world’s governing body for skiing, the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS), has joined forces with the United Nations’ World Meteorological Organization (WMO) to address the alarming impacts of climate change on winter sports. Climate change is posing an existential threat to skiing and snowboarding, with ski resorts around the world facing reduced snowfall and shorter seasons. This partnership aims to leverage scientific expertise to find practical solutions to preserve the future of winter sports.
Facing the Truth of Climate Change
A stark warning that ski resorts around the world may be faced with in coming years as climate change costs it a grip on snow and winter seasons shrink drastically. The result has been the destruction of economies at already hard-pressed destinations with a heavy dependency on winter tourism. In response to the critical events, FIS has cooperated with WMO to investigate their meteorological expertise towards enhancing insight in the future prospects for winter sports.
The joint statement noted that global warming on winter sports and mountain tourism “is becoming clearer”. In particular, the sport of skiing has become greatly dependent on artificial snow-making that uses copious amounts of water and energy. Proof of this is that the downhill skiing demands for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics were held in an area infested by drought and with slopes entirely artificially generated, mobilizing complaints from environmental organizations.
Footbal, The Carbon Footprint of the “White Circus”
The FIS annually holds a full schedule of 616 World Cup races and competitions on the highest competition level in all disciplines at 166 different places with prize money available for these titles as well. The so-called “White Circus” of jet-setting the world for competitions also has been criticized by environmentalists as having a major carbon footprint. In the 2023/24 season, a full four weeks of races were called off (26 in total) because of weather; events at Sochi were among those lost just a fortnight ago, which only serves to underscore how essential it is that winter sports get on top of the threat to their future posed by climate change.
It marks a milestone in the history of the FIS and its partnership with the WMO, as no sports federation has ever signed such an agreement with the organization. With a focus on the oft-neglected topics of real science and predictable impacts – this partnership is an opportunity to encourage interdisciplinary reconciliation and publication services that allow stakeholders to bridge their interests side by side.
The Future Of Mid-Mountain Skiing Looks Grim
Climate change is already occurring on the ground, with a third of pistes at the Metabief ski resort near Montbeliard in eastern France having to be shut following of years of unreliable snow. The resort’s economic model was now considered,”no longer viable” and the community “was left to mourn the loss of mid-mountain skiing, while staring into the eyes of climate change.”
To answer those urgent questions, the WMO and the FIS will hold a webinar on climate change, snow, ice & winter sports on 7 November for all 137 national ski associations as well as venues managers and event organizers. The course will also expand upon the latest enhancements to forecasting tools designed to streamline snow management near ski resorts. The objective of this campaign is to provide the winter sports community with information and resources to help us prepare for an uncertain future in a warming world.
