Sledding, skiing, and snowboarding are among the most popular winter leisure activities enjoyed by countless people. There’s a good reason why people compete to be the first in line. However, there is sad news. Recently, due to the rapid decrease in snowfall worldwide, it is becoming increasingly difficult to enjoy sledding and skiing in the future. Dry, bare-ground ski slopes in winter look as pitiful as glaciers in the Arctic.
The Case of the Missing Snow at Ski Resorts
The impact of decreasing snowfall on ski resorts is very serious. According to research, if the Earth’s temperature rises by 2 degrees Celsius, half of the approximately 2,000 ski resorts in Europe will have to close, and if it rises by 4 degrees, nearly all will shut down. Of course, artificial snow might be used as a way to cope. According to Seilbahnen, the Swiss lift operators’ association, 90% of ski resorts in Italy, 70% in Austria, 53% in Switzerland, 37% in France, and 25% in Germany already use artificial snow. However, artificial snow does not solve the chronic problem of snow shortage. Even with artificial snow, 27% of ski resorts remain at risk, and if the Earth’s temperature rises by 4 degrees, less than one-third of ski resorts will survive.
Let’s recall how intense the bidding battle was to host the 2011 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, with even athlete Yuna Kim stepping up to support the effort. After three attempts, South Korea finally succeeded in securing the 2018 Winter Olympics for Pyeongchang. However, such a passionate bidding war now seems to be over. In fact, we might soon find ourselves pleading for the event to be held here. This is because climate change is causing winters in the Northern Hemisphere’s mid-latitude regions to shorten by 4.7 days every decade, leading to a corresponding decrease in snowfall. Since the 1980s, snowfall in the US and Europe has declined by 10 to 20% every decade. According to research from the University of Waterloo in Canada, nine out of 21 Winter Olympic host cities will no longer be able to hold the Games around 2050. These include Sochi in Russia, Grenoble and Chamonix in France, Vancouver in Canada, and Oslo in Norway. This is not surprising, considering that 80% of the snow at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics was artificial. The situation was no different for Pyeongchang. Just as apple orchards are shifting northward, Winter Olympic venues are also moving further north.
The Poisoned Chalice: Snow Machines and Sponsorship
As snowfall decreases, many ski resorts are avoiding closure by producing artificial snow. Since artificial snow is not of lower quality than natural snow, this isn’t a problem. In fact, some athletes even prefer artificial snow over natural snow. Artificial snow is moist and dense, making it durable enough to withstand ten races and advantageous for maintaining speed. Unpredictable natural snow is like an uninvited guest. Sometimes strong winds are used to blow it away so that no unwelcome traces remain on the meticulously prepared course.
If both athletes and ski resorts have no complaints about artificial snow, wouldn’t it be fine to keep using snow machines as we do now? At first, the ski industry’s use of snow machines to produce artificial snow was seen as an adaptation to climate change. But can snow machines truly be the savior of an industry facing a crisis?
Making artificial snow requires a large amount of energy and water. Additionally, chemicals are needed to lower the temperature or to create the right snow texture. The use of snow machines emits carbon, further accelerating climate change. Snow machines are a poisoned chalice. While they may seem to solve the problem temporarily, the consequences are ultimately devastating.
We are not the only ones hoping for the future of skiing. There are many sponsors who invest large sums of money to promote the ski industry. Like other sports, skiing attracts a lot of corporate sponsorship. The unfortunate truth is that the companies sponsoring skiing the most are ironically the ones driving the ski industry into its most serious crisis. According to an analysis by a campaign group, 107 corporate sponsorships related to skiing were connected to high greenhouse gas-emitting companies. The clean and eco-friendly image of skiing on white snow helps improve these companies’ public image. However, while corporate sponsorship may provide short-term vitality to the ski industry, ultimately it contributes to increasing sales for high-emission companies, making the future of skiing even more uncertain.
Without change, it disappears
Where there are losers, there are also winners. The decrease in snowfall in mid-latitude regions is a boon for high-latitude areas. This is why ski resorts in Sweden, located near the Arctic Circle, are excitedly anticipating the boom that the Alps region has long enjoyed. However, it remains uncertain whether Sweden’s ski resorts will be a perfect alternative for the major Western European skiers who have traditionally favored the Alps. Sweden is pursuing strong reduction policies, including a declaration to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045—five years earlier than many other countries. Most of the greenhouse gas emissions related to skiing come from people traveling to the ski resorts. Sweden’s greenhouse gas regulations will likely increase the costs of high-emission transportation methods such as airplanes and cars.
A bigger challenge is overcoming cultural differences. The skiing culture in Nordic countries like Sweden is quite different from that of the Alps. Nordic skiers mainly focus on skiing close to nature in a pure form, while those who visit the Alps place great importance on the parties held at night. Another hurdle is the difference in ski seasons. Sweden’s prime skiing season is undoubtedly spring, because the days are longer and more snow falls compared to winter. However, most Europeans ski during the winter holiday season. Therefore, for mid-latitude European skiers who have lost the Alps to enjoy skiing in the Nordic countries, they first need to bridge the cultural gap regarding when and how they ski. Ultimately, to continue enjoying skiing, it is necessary to make efforts to change both the way they travel to ski resorts and how they experience skiing itself.
Ski resorts must also change to survive. In Italy, there are 249 ski lifts that have been closed or are no longer in use due to climate change, and around 200 lifts have either stopped operating at least once during the winter or have been partially closed. In response, the industry is seeking a way out by transforming these resorts into year-round destinations where visitors can enjoy ski touring (cross-country skiing) in winter and hiking and mountain biking in summer.
Recently, 500 winter sports athletes sent a letter to the International Ski Federation (ISF) urging more active climate action. Additionally, workers in the Italian ski industry issued “The Clean Outdoor Manifesto,” demanding an end to cutting down forests for new lifts and ski runs, as well as stopping the construction of artificial lakes and underground pipelines for making artificial snow. Calls for the industry to engage in self-reflective efforts are louder than ever before.
Just as the people of the South Pacific island nations have lost their homes, skiers have lost their skiing grounds. If you measure the total area, it might be even larger than all the South Pacific islands combined. While it’s not comparable to losing a place to live, those working in the ski industry have lost their livelihoods, and we have lost our playground. To continue enjoying winter sports, desperate climate action from both the industry and skiers is necessary. Some might say, “Why make such a fuss? Just stop skiing for a while.” But if we can’t even enjoy skiing anymore, then what’s the point of living? Humans don’t live just to survive. Humans live to find joy.
▶ This article is a contribution to the webzine published by the Korea National Oil Corporation.
https://www.knoc.co.kr/upload/EBOOK/sabo/199/sub/sub2_4.html
