Ski Sport Authorities Advise Resorts on Snow Farming and Climate Resilience

Due to insufficient snowfall in recent winters, some ski resorts have experienced temporary closures. Consequently, these establishments are now being encouraged to implement solar panels on ski lifts and engage in ‘snow farming’ as strategies to address the difficulties presented by climate change. These suggestions are included in a recently published guide from the governing body of the sport, which asserts that climate change represents an “existential threat” to both skiing and snowboarding. The previous year, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) issued a caution, indicating that by 2040, only ten nations would possess the necessary conditions to host snow sports, attributing this limitation to the effects of climate change. In response, the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) has introduced a Sustainability Guide for Ski Resorts, designed to assist these venues in enhancing their resilience against increasing global temperatures and diminished snowfall. This guide outlines 14 distinct initiatives, providing instructions for resorts on their implementation and showcasing instances where some of these measures are already being put into practice. According to Susanna Sieff, the FIS sustainability director, “Our role is also to provide the whole FIS family with tools that can guide them in trying to reduce their environmental impact.” These recommended actions encompass the installation of solar panels on ski lifts to decrease energy usage, the adoption of more renewable energy sources, and the promotion of sustainable transportation options for skiers through services like shuttles or organized car pools. Furthermore, resorts are advised to enhance their snow farming practices, which involve gathering and preserving snow in specialized facilities for subsequent use in the next season. Such an approach would concurrently lessen the necessity for artificial snow production, a process known to consume significant amounts of energy and water. The FIS stated, “By adopting these 14 key initiatives, ski resorts can pave the way toward a more sustainable snow sports industry.” The introduction of this new guide follows a partnership initiated earlier this year between the FIS and the United Nations’ World Meteorological Organization (WMO), established “to highlight the far-reaching impacts of rising global temperatures on snow and ice cover and to establish practical initiatives.”