Environment

9th June 2022

Another Alpine Glacier Resort Calls Off Summer Skiing

The Molltaler glacier in Austria has announced it will not open this year. Earlier this month Val d’Isere said its glacier will remain shut.

3rd June 2022

The Alps Are Turning Greener But Native Plants Under Threat

A new report says the melting ice, diminishing snowpack & rising temperatures means non-native plant species are growing in the Alps. It is a further sign of increasing climate change.

25th May 2022

Lake Tahoe Clean Up Ends

The 72-mile shoreline of the Californian lake has been cleaned in a project that started in May 2021. Lamposts, phones and engagements rings were found.

15th May 2022

Austrian Glaciers Likely to Melt by End of the Century

That’s the stark warning from the head of the World Meteorological Organisation, WMO, as global warming takes its toll. Glacier skiing continues in the Alps this summer but there are worries about for how much longer.

28th April 2022

US Resort Uses Fully Electric Piste Basher

Taos Ski Valley in New Mexico is thought to be the first North American ski resort to use a fully-electric snow grooming machine. Other resorts are looking with interest with some claiming hydrogen power is the future.

6th April 2022

Skiing, Snowboarding & Sustainability

Much is talked about environmental initiatives and sustainability. But is it even possible for ski resorts to be ‘green’? They are in pristine mountain environments, use large amounts of resources and that’s not even mentioning international travel. PlanetSKI examines the issues in the Ski Welt in Austria.

3rd March 2022

Inghams Acts on Sustainability

The ski tour operator and its sister brands, Esprit and Santa’s Lapland, have announced they’re taking new steps towards sustainable travel as part of a Climate Action Plan.

11th December 2021

Eco Stays in Isère

More and more of us are trying to do our bit to ‘go green’ and still enjoy our snowsports. The Isère region in the French Alps has some great ideas for how you can make your visit more sustainable.

11th November 2021

International Ski Federation Launches New Environmental Initiative

It aims to become the first Climate Positive International Sports Federation by 2022 through its FIS Rainforest Initiative.

10th November 2021

Kite Skiing Across Antarctica

Justin Packshaw and Jamie Facer Childs are heading south to begin an 80-day expedition across 2,500 miles of the frozen continent. PlanetSKI is following their travels.

6th November 2021

North American Ski Industry Leaders Join Together to Fight Climate Change

Alterra Mountain Company, Boyne Resorts, POWDR and Vail Resorts have announced the Climate
Collaborative Charter. It is the ski industry’s first unified effort to combat climate change with shared commitments around sustainability and advocacy.

4th November 2021

A Greener Way to Get to the Alps

World attention is on the COP26 summit and how we can tackle the climate situation. Skiers wanting to head to France are being advised that train travel is perhaps better for the planet.

3rd November 2021

Climate Change Threatens Swiss Glaciers

In landlocked Switzerland temperatures are rising faster than in regions that benefit from the ocean’s cooling effect.The glaciers are under threat as world leaders meet for COP26 in Glasgow.

31st October 2021

IOC Commits to Cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Half by 2030

It comes as the UN Climate Summit, COP26, takes place in Glasgow. The International Olympic Committee claims a firm commitment to tackling climate change as snowsports is threatened.

31st August 2021

Snow Cannons Used to Battle Wildfires in California Ski Resorts

The cannons were turned on at Sierra-at-Tahoe ski resort and with the help of fire fighting teams the resort has been saved. Kirkwood is under threat, Heavenly has been evacuated and Squaw Valley has been partially closed due to smoke. UPDATED

28th August 2021

Summer Glacier Protection Continues

A handful of glacier areas in the Alps have once again been protected by coverings this summer in an attempt to slow the melt. It may though just delay what is looking increasingly inevitable and it comes at a cost.

18th August 2021

Sustainability Award for Morzine-Avoriaz Ski Resorts

The Flocon Vert sustainability label is awarded by the European organisation, Mountain Riders. It recognises destinations that demonstrate a commitment to a sustainable development policy.

22nd July 2021

North America Heatwave Devastates Glaciers

Scientists say the glaciers are melting at ‘worrying rates’. The temperature at 3,000m is 6 degrees above average with large amounts of ice melting. Glaciers are melting at alarming rates across the world. UPDATED

15th June 2021

Ski Industry in USA Unites to Fight Climate Change

The four largest ski corporations in the US have come together in what they say is the first unified effort to combat climate change with shared commitments.

16th April 2021

Covering Glaciers: an Expensive Way of Preventing the Ice Melting

Covering glaciers with tarpaulins reduces melting by as much as 60% but is too costly to use on a large scale, according to a Swiss research study. A separate report warns that the temperature of the Swiss permafrost is continuing to rise.

28th December 2020

Piste Bashers Going Green

An Italian company has unveiled a fully electric piste basher + a hydrogen powered groomer. A glimpse into a more environmentally friendly future?

4th December 2020

Vail Resorts Claims Major Step Towards Zero Carbon Goal

The mega US-based ski company says it’s made big advances towards its commitment to reaching a zero net carbon footprint by 2030.

6th October 2020

French Piste Bashers Turn Green

All 250 ski resorts in France will introduce hydrogen-powered piste bashers as part of a commitment to going carbon neutral by 2037.

26th August 2020

Ski Lift Company Commits To Preserve Mont Blanc Glacier

Skyway, the alpine cable car connecting Courmayeur in Italy to Chamonix in France claims to be the first company to come up with an environmentally sustainable research project to preserve the glacier.

20th August 2020

Courmayeur Defends Its Action On Threatened Glacier Collapse

Homes and hotels were evacuated earlier this month over fears that a massive ice block could fall from a Mont Blanc glacier. The threat has now been lifted.

16th July 2020

Newspapers From Crashed Jet Found in Melting Glacier Ice

Several newspapers believed to have been on board an Air India Boeing 707, which crashed above Chamonix more than 54 years ago, have been found by the manager of a nearby mountain hut.

22nd June 2020

Climate Report Claims Many Winter Olympic Hosts Could Not Stage Games In 30 Years

The study says that only 10 of 19 former Games locations will be able to stage reliable winter sports events by 2050 and just 6 by 2080.

17th April 2020

Norway’s Melting Glaciers Reveal Viking & Iron Age Finds

Melting glacial ice in Norway is revealing hundreds of Viking and other historical artifacts on the route of a long-lost ancient mountain pass.

17th February 2020

CLIMATE CHANGE COULD LEAD TO TENS OF THOUSANDS OF JOB LOSSES IN WINTER TOURISM

Two new reports make grim reading for those involved in winter tourism. The future looks bleak, but there is some hope.

14th February 2020

FRENCH PRESIDENT VOWS TO PROTECT MONT BLANC

Emmanuel Macron has been to Chamonix to see for himself the damage caused to the country’s largest glacier by global warming and announce measures to protect the mountain from over-tourism.

30th January 2020

TOP SKI RACER CALLS FOR BAN ON SUMMER SKIING

The recently retired German alpine racer Felix Neureuther believes skiers should no longer train on glaciers in the summer. Is it time to ban summer skiing?

9th January 2020