By Claire Simon
On a list of things that can be done to make a difference to climate change, skiing probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. Snow sports have long been regarded as a guilty pleasure - tough on the pocket and the planet. But it doesn’t have to be this way.
Unfortunately I can’t say that I’ve found a way of making skiing cheap (unless you forgo those glasses of vin chaud, comfy chalets and fondues - but it is a holiday after all). I can however say that skiing can be much, much greener than often thought. And that’s not just by sticking to the nursery slopes.
As someone who started sliding down mountains on wooden planks when I barely came up to my dad’s knees, I’ve observed first-hand a dramatic and devastating change in the mountain environment over the years. It used to be almost guaranteed that mid-winter skiing would mean frozen extremities and fresh powder. This is no longer the case. Fluctuating temperatures, lack of snow, resorts reporting new snow cannons instead of new ski runs, and even rain, are making increasingly common and unwelcome appearances during the winter season. It is in ski resorts that climate change rears its ugly head so apparently.
Witnessing the effects of climate change directly, snow sports enthusiasts have recognised that if they want to protect the sport, they need to protect the planet. In 2007 Jeremy Jones, an American pro boarder, launched POW – Protect Our Winters – an organisation which runs campaigns and programmes to raise awareness about climate change and its effect on winter sports. According to Jones, “POW’s mission is to unite and actively engage the global snow sports community to lead the fight against climate change.” Resorts and tour operators – themselves dependent on the tourism winter sports bring to the mountains – are also taking action to try and up their green credentials and protect the mountain.
Here are a few ways to show your support for these campaigns and make your ski holiday a greener one:
Research before you book
Some resorts are much greener than others, fact. One of the best ways to make sure you are going to a resort which is doing as much as it can to tackle climate change is to check out the Ski Club of Great Britain’s campaign Respect the Mountain, and in particular the Green Resort Guide. Here you can enter the name of the resort you’d like to visit and find out how green they actually are.
Things to look out for include ski lifts, snow cannons and buildings running on renewable electricity; new lift systems being installed in environmentally-friendly ways in order to protect wildlife and natural habitats; and old lifts being sent elsewhere to be re-used. Resorts that come out top include Mayrhofen, Werfenweng and Obergurgl in Austria, the Trois Vallées, Avoriaz and Les Gets in France, and Davos and Saas Fee in Switzerland, among many others. So if you are toying with the idea of skiing this winter, do your research before you book. That way you can support the resorts making the biggest efforts to tackle climate change.
Ski closer to home
Despite a bad reputation for its green credentials, skiing is more a victim than a cause of climate change. And what’s imperative to remember is that it’s travelling to the resort rather than the skiing itself which is the main source of CO2 emissions. But reaching winter wonderlands doesn’t have to mean flying thousands of miles on a fossil fuel-guzzling plane. Although Canada and America will always attract thousands of British snow sports lovers, some of the best skiing in the world is on Europe’s doorstep.
Many European ski resorts can be reached by train. And not only can it be more convenient than flying – fewer weight restrictions and drop-off points often close to resorts - but it makes a big dent in the carbon footprint of your holiday. For families or groups of friends, driving to the resort can also be a good option - if the car is full - although it’s best to check with the resort you’re planning on going to as many impose vehicle restrictions to cut down on pollution and traffic. You can work out the carbon emissions from different forms of transport and make your decision on which is the best for your holiday by using figures on the Department for Food and Rural Affairs website.
Go that extra mile by choosing eco-friendly ski gear too, like wax made from plant and vegetable extracts or skis made from sustainable materials, and second-hand clothing.
Climate change is putting the future of winter sports in jeopardy. So if you are a skier or snowboarder, greening up your ski holiday and showing your support for POW or other campaigns will really make a difference. Skiing doesn’t have to be a guilty pleasure.
