More than half of European ski resorts under threat from climate change, projects study

(28 Aug 2023)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Bedrichov, Tanvald, Czech Republic - 5 January 2022
1. Various of ski lifts at Obri Sud ski resort
2. People skiing and partially snow-covered slopes

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Grenoble, France - 25 August 2023
3. SOUNDBITE (French) Samuel Morin, researcher at Meteo France weather agency and France’s National Centre for Scientific Research, a study co-author:
“All the resorts will be confronted with a snow situation which will deteriorate and which will therefore require to be taken into account. To take into account, in the development strategies of these resorts, both under the angle of adaptation to climate change. How to limit the magnitude of the consequences of the change that is already taking place and which will continue, but also how to reduce at the root the emissions that cause climate change, the emissions of the Greenhouse Effect. And that mainly concerns road, air transport to get to tourist destinations; on-site housing, which is also a major emitter of greenhouse gas emissions; and then, of course, the intrinsic operations of the winter sports resort, the ski lifts, the grooming and the snow production.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Bedrichov, Tanvald, Czech Republic - 5 January 2022
4. Snow cannon
5. Empty lift

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Filzmoos, Austria -5 January 2023
6. Various of skiers coming down partially snow-covered slopes

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Grenoble, France - 25 August 2023
7. SOUNDBITE (French) Samuel Morin, researcher at Meteo France weather agency and France’s National Center for Scientific Research, a study co-author:
“And in this study we specifically document the extent to which snow production -- so artificial snow -- will modulate the magnitude of the consequences of climate change, with differences between the situation for two degrees of global warming, for four degrees of global warming for example. And for different snow production coverage rates in winter sports resorts.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Vlasic Mountain, Bosnia - 3 January 2023
8. Snow cannon at ski resort
9. Green slopes with quad bikes in foreground
10. People walking on green slopes

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Grenoble, France - 25 August 2023
11. SOUNDBITE (French) Samuel Morin, researcher at Meteo France weather agency and France’s National Center for Scientific Research, a study co-author:
“In the tourism sector, if we want to limit the extent of the consequences, we must also be concerned about limiting the carbon footprint of this activity and therefore do everything possible to massively reduce greenhouse gas emissions for the entire sector.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Jahorina Mountain, Bosnia - 3 January 2023
12. Ski lift gondolas with snowless mountain range
13. People walking on snowless mountain
14. Ski resort with only partially snow-covered slopes
STORYLINE:
A scientific study published Monday projects that over half of Europe's ski resorts will face a severe lack of snow if temperatures rise 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, while nearly all would be by an increase of 4 degrees — presenting challenges for the tourism industry and policymakers, and threatening a cold reality for ski lovers.

In the paper published in the journal Nature Climate Change, the team of experts warns that a common solution — production of artificial snow – would only partially offset the decline and would involve processes like snow blowers that generate more of the same greenhouse gases that are heating up the globe in the first place.










Many ski resort operators — in Europe and beyond — are already getting the message.



Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives ​​
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/


You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/f83fe02aa8514254acb0c7b1810aceef