This is the threat to the entire skiing sport

Shrinking glaciers, bare mountains and competitions being washed out. Ski sports are facing a dark future due to climate change, warns the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). You in Sweden may not notice it as much as in the Alps yet. But it's coming, says Daniel Kull at WMO.

» Published:

This is the threat to the entire skiing sport
Photo: Laurent Cipriani/AP/TT

Share this article

Last season, 26 out of 616 FIS World Cup competitions were cancelled due to weather-related reasons. If human-induced climate warming continues, it may become significantly more frequent.

"The climate crisis affects much more than FIS - or sports, for that matter," says FIS President Johan Eliasch in a press release.

"But it is clear that climate change poses an existential threat to skiing and snowboarding."

Improving Snow Management

FIS and the UN's meteorological organization WMO are therefore launching a five-year collaboration. The goal is to put climate change in the spotlight. They are kicking off with a seminar on November 7 with all 137 national ski associations. There, they will, among other things, show how advanced forecasting tools can improve snow management around ski resorts.

Already, the Alps' glaciers have lost 60 percent of their volume compared to 1850, and the number of days with snowfall at altitudes below 800 meters has halved since 1970. Global warming has reached 1.3 degrees, and with a rise to 2 degrees, half of the world's 2,234 ski resorts risk facing snow shortages, according to a study from last year.

"Significant Impact"

Daniel Kull, who is WMO's responsible for the partnership, tells TT that WMO sees the collaboration as a way to get the message about climate change's impact to a broader audience. A goal is for the audience to understand that when competitions are cancelled, it's not one-off events, but an increasing trend.

Ski tourism may disappear, but even more importantly, there are communities in the mountains whose infrastructure is undermined when permafrost melts. The water supply for millions, if not billions, is affected when glaciers disappear and snow doesn't fall, he says.

The competitions take place on different continents and require air travel, a major emission source.

I know that FIS is looking into it. But everyone should clearly feel a personal responsibility to reduce their carbon footprint, says Kull.

Tags

Author

TTT
By TTEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for local and international readers

More news

Blackstenius Shines as Arsenal Triumphs Over West Ham in Derby

Blackstenius Shines as Arsenal Triumphs Over West Ham in Derby

Turkey Advances to European Basketball Championship Final After Defeating Greece

Turkey Advances to European Basketball Championship Final After Defeating Greece

Sweden Levels Davis Cup Tie Against Tunisia After Dramatic Comeback

Sweden Levels Davis Cup Tie Against Tunisia After Dramatic Comeback

Real Madrid's Antonio Rüdiger Sidelined by Injury Until December

Real Madrid's Antonio Rüdiger Sidelined by Injury Until December

Olympic Gold Medalist Andrei Chemerkin Dies at 53

Olympic Gold Medalist Andrei Chemerkin Dies at 53

Finland Falls to Germany in European Basketball Semifinal

Finland Falls to Germany in European Basketball Semifinal

Newcastle Coach Eddie Howe Discusses Alexander Isak's Departure

Newcastle Coach Eddie Howe Discusses Alexander Isak's Departure

Perseus Karlström Prepares for Tokyo World Championship Heat

Perseus Karlström Prepares for Tokyo World Championship Heat

Ludvig Åberg Drops to Second in PGA Championship at Wentworth

Ludvig Åberg Drops to Second in PGA Championship at Wentworth

Andreas Almgren Aims for World Championship Medal in Tokyo 10000m

Andreas Almgren Aims for World Championship Medal in Tokyo 10000m

Rögle Signs NHL Veteran Defenseman Calvin de Haan

Rögle Signs NHL Veteran Defenseman Calvin de Haan

Sprinter Erriyon Knighton Receives Four-Year Suspension

Sprinter Erriyon Knighton Receives Four-Year Suspension

Mike Powell Suspended from All Athletics Activities by AIU

Mike Powell Suspended from All Athletics Activities by AIU

Mutaz Essa Barshim to Miss Tokyo World Championship Due to Injury

Mutaz Essa Barshim to Miss Tokyo World Championship Due to Injury

Ethiopian Runner Diribe Welteji Suspended Before World Championship

Ethiopian Runner Diribe Welteji Suspended Before World Championship

Nordås Skips Media Ahead of World Championship as Coach Leaves Tokyo

Nordås Skips Media Ahead of World Championship as Coach Leaves Tokyo

Slot Commends Tomasson for Managing Isak's Playing Time

Slot Commends Tomasson for Managing Isak's Playing Time

NHL Reinstates Cleared World Junior Championship Players After Suspension

NHL Reinstates Cleared World Junior Championship Players After Suspension

Greg Norman Departs LIV Tour After Transformative Years

Greg Norman Departs LIV Tour After Transformative Years

Charlotte Kalla Joins SVT as Olympic Games Expert

Charlotte Kalla Joins SVT as Olympic Games Expert