Ski resorts may face a tough future

A recent report by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) discusses how the European ski industry may face an uncertain future as a result if global warming.

The report makes depressing reading. It starts with the statement that many region of the Alps have had the warmest November on record, there is certainly a lack of snow across Europe, and there has been a delayed start to the season. In fact 1994, 2000, 2002, and 2003 were the warmest years on record in the Alps since 1500… that is worrying.

Apparently – “Presently 90% – 609 out of the 666 medium to large Alpine ski areas – normally have adequate snow cover for at least 100 days per year. The remaining 10% are already operating under marginal conditions. Future climate change could mean a drop in the number of ‘snow-reliable’ ski areas with a 1°C increase in temperature dropping the number to 500, 2°C to 400, and 4°C to 200.”. With Germany likely to suffer the most lost ski areas and skiing.

This means less choice, more crowded slopes. Plus the situation may be made worse by the ski areas as they try to ‘compensate’ for lost snow by ‘blowing’ more, which is environmentally damaging in terms of water use and power consumption.

This all seems to fit in with a story I posted a few days ago about how an early-season ski event had been cancelled in Austria (see earlier post).

The full report can be read over at the OECD website – the report