Fayez Hoda, Pune
In an effort to combat the “existential threat” that climate change poses to winter sports, the World Skiing governing organization and the United Nations meteorological office teamed up on Thursday. The realities of a warming globe are forcing ski resorts around the world to adapt, which will ultimately result in shorter ski seasons, less snowfall, and negative economic effects on areas that depend on winter tourism. In response, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) of the UN and the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) have signed a memorandum of understanding to formally establish their relationship. This agreement intends to underline the widespread impacts of rising global temperatures on snow and ice cover, while also advocating practical actions to solve these concerns.
Amid mounting concerns over climate change, the FIS expects that its partnership with the WMO can provide insightful information on the future of winter sports. FIS president Johan Eliasch said that the climate problem is a critical time for humanity and that it affects more than simply winter sports. He did, however, agree that skiing and snowboarding are fundamentally threatened by climate change and that it is critical to pursue all scientifically supported efforts to reduce the risks.
Swedish-British businessman and environmentalist Eliasch previously worked for former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown as a special person on his team for deforestation and clean energy.
The WMO noted in a joint statement that it is becoming more and more obvious how climate change is affecting mountain tourism and winter sports. Particularly in skiing, there are currently many obstacles to overcome because big events like the Olympics, World Cup, and World Championships frequently use artificial snow. Nevertheless, making fake snow requires a lot of water and energy.
Environmental organizations have criticized the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics for holding downhill skiing competitions in a drought-affected area with all snow artificially created. In addition, because of its constant travel between events throughout the globe, the international ski circuit also referred to as the “White Circus,” has come under fire from environmentalists for its carbon footprint.
The FIS scheduled 616 World Cup races at 166 venues in 2023–2024 across a variety of disciplines; 26 of those races were postponed because to inclement weather.