The need to hit peak emissions
Breaking the ice
The recent privilege of going on a skiing holiday with my mates in the French Alps opened up the opportunity to write about climate change and skiing.
It was so peaceful to admire the grandeur of the mountains, which combined perfectly with the hoards of British skiers overtaking the resort and getting absolutely smashed every day.
Snow resorts in the Alps had a rough start to 2023, with record-breaking temperatures of 21°C leading to a lack of snowfall. In France, approximately half of the slopes were closed at the beginning of the year.
It is estimated that snowfall has reduced by 50% in the Alps since the 1960s, leading to the closing of approximately 80 ski resorts in Europe over the past decades.
According to the IPCC, glaciers in the European Alps could lose 94% of their volume by 2100 under current climate scenarios, with other studies estimating that the Alps could lose 70% of their snow cover by then.
If it wasn’t clear from the ever-so-slightly alarming statistics above, climate change significantly threatens the $33bn Alpine Ski industry. In France alone, we’re speaking about half a million jobs at risk.
To me, this industry is a perfect example of the growing need for climate change mitigation and thoughtful adaptation, as well as the importance of developing a sense of urgency regarding what is coming our way if climate inaction and apathy are to prevail.
A slippery slope for decarbonisation
With shortening skiing seasons and melting snow, ski resorts are forced to think about adapting their business models. Investments in mountain biking and hiking trails are being made to future-proof the region’s reliance on tourism.
The reason why this is happening is made pretty clear by the latest IPCC report. Atmospheric CO2 concentrations were higher in 2019 than at any time in the last 2 million years, and global surface temperatures are 1.1°C higher relative to pre-industrial levels.
In the case of skiing, I thought it would be interesting to explore the biggest emissions hotspots. A French study highlighted that a day of skiing emits 48.9 kgCO2e. If you’re lucky to ski over six days, that represents around 5.8% of French annual per capita emissions. The top 3 sources of emissions for the trip are:
- Transport: 52%
From an environmental point of view, the most important decision regarding your skiing holidays is how you get there. A skier coming from London to France by plane would emit roughly 12 times more emissions than if they took the train.
However, it’s important to highlight that significant green premiums are associated with taking the train. The cheapest one-way train ticket I found when writing this article was priced at £122.1, whereas you could get a flight from London to Lyon for £22. That is if your trains aren’t cancelled (twice) due to national strikes!
Not accounting for the bus charges to get from the station to the resorts, the lower-carbon transportation would be 455% more expensive. This is just an example, but it highlights how out-of-reach trains can be, even for privileged humans taking a week off to go skiing. It could also explain why only 2% of Brits take the train to go skiing, whereas 72% fly.
2. Infrastructure and slopes: 20%
When we’re racing down the slopes, it’s easy to forget the energy required to enjoy the ride. Piste-bashing machinery is heavily reliant on fossil fuels, ski lifts need to be operated, and artificial snow will increasingly be made by ski resorts aiming to stay open.
Making just two metres cubed of artificial snow requires as much electricity as a British household’s daily consumption. It also exacerbates water scarcity in mountain regions, as 285,000 litres of water are needed to create a blanket of snow covering 61 square metres.
Water consumption could be raised by 79% by the end of the century in some resorts if they rely on artificial snow, with the technology pushing the creation of artificial lakes threatening local biodiversity. With its adaptation efforts, the ski industry is ironically further contributing to the climate crisis.
3. Equipment: 16%
Your skiing outfit is a big fashion statement for your Instagram followers, but it’s also a significant source of emissions. At the macro level, the fashion industry is responsible for nearly 10% of global GHG emissions.
With the need for boots, skis, helmets, sunglasses and thermal clothes, emissions from the manufacturing of these products add up when accounting for the impact of a ski trip.
With great powder comes great responsibility
With 135 million skiers worldwide, many will see the sport they love most being threatened by climate change. I hope this will contribute to more people taking stock of the climate crisis, and creating ripple effects of climate action in their lives, whether through work or individual choices.
In the meantime, I choose to remain hopeful about global climate change mitigation efforts. I find it to be a safer coping mechanism than letting climate anxiety cripple any form of action. For the skiing industry, decarbonisation levers present themselves to resorts and individuals:
- Systemic change
- Electricity: Increasing the share of electricity procured from renewable sources such as solar and abundant hydropower in mountain areas. Investments can also be made to electrify transportation within the resort.
- Fuels: Replacing diesel-powered piste bashers with hydrogen-powered machinery when the technology becomes available. This is what 250 ski resorts in France are aiming to do.
- Individual change
- Travel: Opting for the train could reduce your travel emissions by 92%, which is arguably the most significant impact you can have as an individual.
- Equipment: Avoiding buying any equipment by renting from shops or friends! If you must purchase new equipment, look for strong signals of the brand’s commitment to tackling climate change, such as having set Science-Based Targets.
We’re approaching the end of this article, you realise that you read countless stats your brain will discard, and you’ve rolled your eyes numerous times when reading my puns. What’s to take away?
My point isn’t that you should never set foot on a slope again. I hope to convey the impact climate change will have, what adaption in a warming world entails, and, most importantly, the urgent need for all of us to drive decarbonisation in various sectors. That is, in whichever way we can best drive impact at our own scale.
