Rising temperatures and unpredictable snowfall are forcing Europe’s ski resorts to rethink their business strategies. What was once a reliable winter playground is now facing environmental and economic pressures that threaten the future of the industry.
Skiing in a Warmer World
Even with the Winter Olympics opening soon in Milan–Cortina, snow coverage isn’t guaranteed across Europe. Resorts increasingly rely on artificial snowmaking to keep slopes open, a costly and energy-intensive solution. These expenses often fall on skiers through higher lift pass prices, putting the sport out of reach for many.
Climate change is already reshaping Europe’s winter sports landscape. The Alps, a hub for skiing and biodiversity, are experiencing shorter, warmer winters, affecting everything from snowfall patterns to the timing of peak tourism. The International Olympic Committee has acknowledged that rising global temperatures, driven by fossil fuel use, are altering the very geography of winter sports.
The Olympic Map at Risk
A 2021 study from the University of Waterloo found that if drastic climate action isn’t taken, only four historic Winter Olympic sites — Lake Placid, Lillehammer, Oslo, and Sapporo — will remain suitable by 2050. In a worst-case scenario with a 4°C rise in global temperatures, almost all other locations would be unable to host the Games, and by 2080, only Sapporo might remain viable. Even limiting warming to 2°C under the Paris Agreement, fewer than half of the traditional Olympic sites would still be viable mid-century.
Costs, Water, and Rising Pass Prices
Europe’s winter tourism industry generates roughly €180 billion annually, supporting millions of people across the Alpine region. Germany leads in ski resorts, with nearly 500, followed by Italy, France, Austria, and Switzerland. Yet a 2023 study warns that over half of Europe’s 2,234 ski resorts are at high risk of insufficient snow with just 2°C of warming. In the French Alps, one-third of resorts could be affected; in the Pyrenees, nearly 90 percent.
Artificial snowmaking requires enormous water and energy. Creating 30 centimeters of snow for one hectare can use more than one million liters of water — roughly the annual consumption of a city of 1.5 million people when repeated across a season. Supplying all Alpine resorts would demand around 600 GWh of electricity annually, equivalent to 130,000 households.
These costs are already reflected in ticket prices: skiing in Europe has become 34.8 percent more expensive since 2015, far outpacing inflation, particularly in Switzerland, Austria, and Italy. For many tourists, Europe’s once-accessible winter wonderlands are becoming increasingly unaffordable.
The future of skiing in Europe depends on both climate action and innovative approaches to preserve the sport, its ecosystems, and its economic lifeblood.
