Across Europe, warmer winters and unreliable snowfall are reshaping the future of skiing. While famous destinations like Cortina d’Ampezzo are currently blanketed in snow ahead of the Milan–Cortina Winter Olympics this February, those scenes are becoming harder to guarantee. For many resorts — and the communities that depend on them — climate change is no longer a future threat, but a daily challenge.
Winter Olympics Highlight a Growing Climate Reality
Even in the heart of the Dolomites, rising temperatures and shrinking snowfall are changing the game. Snow is increasingly confined to higher slopes and often exists only thanks to artificial snowmaking — an expensive process with serious environmental consequences. These costs are frequently passed on to skiers, putting winter sports out of reach for many Europeans.
The International Olympic Committee has openly acknowledged the risks climate change poses to winter events. A 2021 study by researchers at Canada’s University of Waterloo found that, without drastic action, just four former Winter Olympic host cities would remain suitable by mid-century: Lake Placid, Oslo, Lillehammer and Sapporo. Under a worst-case scenario of 4°C global warming by 2050, only Sapporo could still host the Games by 2080. Even if global warming is limited to 2°C, fewer than half of past host locations would remain viable.
The Alps at the Heart of Europe’s Ski Economy
While the Olympics take place only once every four years, the ski industry’s struggle is constant. Europe’s winter tourism sector generated around €180 billion in 2022, with the Alps serving as its economic and ecological backbone. The region spans seven countries, supports around 80 million people, and provides critical water resources and biodiversity.
Germany leads Europe with nearly 500 ski resorts, followed by Italy and France. But a 2023 study published in Nature Climate Change paints a stark picture: under a 2°C warming scenario, 53 percent of Europe’s 2,234 ski resorts face a high risk of snow shortages. In the French Alps, a third of resorts could become unviable, while the Pyrenees face near-total collapse. If global temperatures rise by 4°C, almost all European ski resorts would struggle to operate at all.
Snowmaking, Rising Prices and a Tough Choice Ahead
Artificial snow has become a lifeline — but at a steep cost. Producing enough snow for just one hectare of slope can require over one million litres of water, with repeated snowmaking consuming volumes comparable to a large city’s annual use. Snow cannons also demand vast amounts of electricity, further increasing emissions and reinforcing the climate crisis.
According to estimates, supplying artificial snow across the Alps alone would require around 600 gigawatt-hours of electricity each year — equivalent to the annual consumption of 130,000 households. Unsurprisingly, these costs are being passed on to visitors. Since 2015, skiing expenses in Europe have risen by nearly 35 percent, far outpacing inflation, with the steepest increases seen in Switzerland, Austria and Italy.
The European Union has warned that better coordination in managing shared water resources is essential to protect ecosystems and ensure long-term resilience. Meanwhile, ski resorts face a difficult decision: invest heavily in artificial snow, diversify into year-round tourism, or risk fading away altogether. As winters continue to warm, the future of Europe’s ski culture hangs in the balance.
