Winter sports and climate change

Foundation "pro natura – pro ski"

Founded in 1999, this is an independent organization that issues certificates for ski resorts that meet environmental management in their practices and policies. Its goal is to promote environmental innovation and commitment. It works together with the International Ski Federation (FIS) and the University for Agricultural Sciences in Vienna. Every two years, it issues the "pro natura - pro ski AWARD" for outstanding efforts to protect the environment in ski resorts.

http://www.skiaudit.info/en/home.html

Bund Naturschutz in Bavaria

This association campaigns to protect the Alps against excessive tourism. It opposed Munich’s bid to host the 2018 Winter Olympics.

http://www.bund-naturschutz.de/ (only in German)

Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)

According to the OECD’S 2006 report on climate change in the Alps, snow conditions are reliable in 609 of the 666 ski resorts in Germany, France, Italy, Austria and Switzerland. But the others suffer from a lack of snow. A temperature rise of one degree would cause the number of snow-rich resorts to drop to 500, a temperature rise of 2 degrees would mean it dropped to 404 and a temperature rise of four degrees would reduce the number to 202.

http://www.oecd.org/home

Author: Po Keung Cheung (jp)
Editor: Sonia Phalnikar