The most substantial risk to the winter sports community is created by warmer temperatures. The IPCC has projected that warming will cause decreased snowpack in the western mountains of North America. Trends have shown that there has already been a significant decrease in the Northern Hemisphere’s snowpack (see IPCC’s Fourth Assessment Report, Summary for Policymakers, p. 2).

So what could this mean for us? Shorter winter seasons and less snow. It is true that climate change is projected to increase precipitation in some regions, which may result in more powder. Unfortunately, there can only be snow as long as the temperatures are cool enough. Warmer mountains are currently the most at risk.

Are we too late? No. There is still much that can be done. In 2005, the science academies of 11 nations signed the ‘Joint science academies’ statement: Global Response to Climate Change,” where they stated:

Action taken now to reduce significantly the build-up of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere will lessen the magnitude and rate of climate change”.

We can make a difference. The winter sports community can contribute as a collective through our actions to reduce climate change.

Contributing Writer: Sarah Jordaan, PhD student, University of Calgary