Winter Sports on the Brink: FIS and WMO Unite to Combat Climate Threat as Glaciers Shrink and Races Cancelled

Palm Tree Palm Tree By Rahul Somvanshi

In an unprecedented move, the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) has partnered with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) to confront the existential threat posed by climate change to winter sports.

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The five-year Memorandum of Understanding, which enters into effect ahead of the 2024/25 winter season, commits the organizations to work together to highlight the far-reaching impacts of rising global temperatures on snow and ice cover.

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FIS President Johan Eliasch emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating that the climate crisis is obviously far bigger than FIS − or sports.

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The impact of climate change on winter sports is becoming increasingly evident. In the 2023/24 season, FIS organized 616 World Cup races across all disciplines, spanning 166 venues.

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Retreating glaciers, reduced snow and ice cover and thawing permafrost are having a major impact on mountain ecosystems, communities and economies and will have increasingly serious repercussions at local, national and global level for centuries to come.

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The Swiss Climate Change Scenarios CH2018 predict the zero-degree level, currently at around 850m, will climb a further 400‒650m by 2060 without climate change mitigation, reaching an altitude of around 1,300–1,500m.

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Under the agreement, WMO and its National Meteorological and Hydrological Services will provide data and expertise to help FIS, national ski associations, venue managers and event organizers better understand and utilize weather forecasting to optimize snow management.

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As the ski industry grapples with this crisis, technological advancements in artificial snow production and weather forecasting tools offer some hope for mitigating climate change impacts.

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FIS and other organizations are also implementing sustainability initiatives to reduce the carbon footprint of winter sports.

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