Snow Sports Athletes Call For Climate Action

The world of competitive snow sports is feeling the impact of climate change more profoundly than ever, with competitions being cancelled due to lack of snow caused by unseasonable temperatures and weather events. Additionally, pre-season training slopes are becoming less available and with an increased risk of injury due to poor quality, or absence of natural snow at competition sites.

FIS (Féderation Internationale de Ski) is the international ski federation that governs alpine skiing as well as sports such as freeride, snowboarding, telemark and all Nordic sports. Whilst the FIS has since taken steps towards becoming climate positive in recent years, activists feel its actions on climate change are too slow and too limited to match the scale of the issue. Austrian professional skier, FIS athlete and Protect Our Winters Ambassador Julian Schütter has penned an open letter demanding more substantial action from FIS. In the letter, Schütter calls for a commitment from the federation to reaching net-zero by 2035, an emissions reduction strategy, the installation of an independently-controlled sustainability department and greater transparency in their climate objectives and operations.

‘Skiing is so much fun for me that in 40 years I still want to be waving in deep powder snow,’ he said. ‘Unfortunately, however, climate change stands in my way. With this campaign, I am using my circle of influence, my influence as a ski racer. In doing so, I hope to inspire others to use the influence on their environment, no matter where or how big their circle is.’

For more information on the work POW are doing, advice on how to become a climate advocate, climate literacy training and more, visit the Protect Our Winters website.