I love this part of the year, the coldest one, where even in London we could expect to experience snowfalls. We are in the midst of winter, the best part of the season to have a ski holiday too. Some ski resorts are overbooked after years full of cancellations and almost null bookings due to the pandemic. Maybe some of you are reading this post from a cosy chalet in the Alps. Being immersed in nature makes us feel green and environmentally friendly. But sometimes, our impact, even if indirect, is not positive.
In recent years, rising temperatures have been affecting everything, even ski resorts. Warmer temperatures have hurt many altitudes around the world. Climate change has favoured more melting and an increasing scarcity of natural snow. The hospitality business has been forced to rely even more on the production of artificial snow - produced by a machine that uses a high-pressure pump to spray a mist of water into the cold air. Unfortunately, a trend that has characterised winter games as well. At the latest 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, all the competitions completely rely on artificial snow, making the event not properly sustainable.
A process that negatively affects our planet. Many don’t even consider the amount of water needed for snowmaking. In some areas, up to 20 per cent of water consumed will be used to make snow. A growing environmental concern considering the scarcity in some regions of the world. In addition, the energy consumption for large scale snow production represents another problem to be addressed. Some ski resorts use snow-cannons powered by renewable energy (like the Olympics in Beijing), but the huge waste of water is still a big issue.
Back at the Olympics, I hope that in 2026, when the Winter Games return to Cortina d’Ampezzo and Milan, we won't have the same problem. In the meantime, while picking your ski destinations, please think twice and choose a place with natural snow, like buying fruits in season.
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