The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) has entered into a partnership with the United Nations’ World Meteorological Organization (WMO), marking the first collaboration between an international sports federation and a specialized organization. This new alliance seeks to address the rapidly increasing challenges climate change poses to winter sports and mountain tourism.
Raising Awareness About Climate Change
As climate change continues to alter the climate, winter sports face unprecedented threats. FIS and WMO’s joint initiative aims to show how rising temperatures affect snow and ice, which are important elements for skiing. This partnership will leverage WMO’s scientific data and expertise to raise awareness and stimulate potential change within the sports and tourism sector.
The Secretary General of the WMO, Celeste Saulo, emphasizes the seriousness of the situation, saying, “The collapse of the winter holidays and the canceled sports are – that’s it – the tip of the iceberg of climate change. The retreating glaciers, the reduction of snow and ice, and the melting of the snow greatly affect the mountains, the environment, and the economy . . . His comments indicate the escalation of the climate crisis that will continue to occur around the world if left unchecked.
New Deal Reform
The agreement, which would come into force before the start of the 2024/25 winter season, specifies an initial term of five years with the possibility of renewal. This collaboration will allow both organizations to launch programs to integrate scientific data into winter sports, to develop effective ways to solve climate problems. One of the first efforts, scheduled for November, includes a webinar on the effects of climate change on winter sports, highlighting advances in snow management forecasting.
The president of FIS, Mr. Johan Eliasch, emphasizes that although the climate crisis is a global issue, it has consequences for skiing and snowboarding. “The climate problem is much bigger than the FIS – or the sports, for that matter: the true intersection of people. It is true, however, that climate change, so to speak, is an existential risk in skiing,” Eliasch says, urging the need for science-related actions.
The Dangers of Snow Sports Are Elevated
Climate change continues to affect snowfall and snow stability, posing a major threat to the future of winter tourism. A 2023 study published in Nature Climate Change assessed the vulnerability of European ski resorts. Research has shown that without snowmaking, more than half of Europe’s ski areas face severe snow shortages under a global warming scenario of 2°C, and almost all would face this risk at 4°C. The study also emphasized the importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to reduce these changes.
Switzerland, which is home to both the FIS and the WMO, has seen significant changes in its snowfall patterns. MeteoSwiss says that the number of days it snows in places below 800 meters has decreased by 50% since 1970. The zero-degree level, which used to reach 600 meters above sea level, is now between 850 meters. Without climate mitigation efforts, this level could rise by another 400-650 meters by 2060, threatening the future of glacier-dependent areas.
The Great Word
The FIS is already committed to addressing climate change through the FIS Impact Program, which sets out a plan to reduce the sport’s carbon footprint. Meanwhile, the WMO continues to classify the cryosphere, the frozen regions of the Earth, for its important role in controlling the global water cycle and temperature.
The WMO’s annual State of the Climate reports provide a detailed overview of the effects of global warming, including the continued loss of glaciers and declining ice cover. These changes affect winter tourism, hydropower, infrastructure, and transportation in mountainous areas.
As the climate crisis unfolds, this historic collaboration between the FIS and the WMO brings hope for meaningful action in the fight to protect the winter sports and mountain ecosystems.
This article is based on information provided by FIS.
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