Ski resorts are facing melting slopes. Here's what it means for your winter holiday plans

How can a ski resort become 'eco-friendly'? The simplest solution is to wait for summer.

But when it comes to true environmental sustainability, the situation is more complex, highlighting the paradox confronting the ski industry today.

Winter sports enthusiasts flock to the mountains for their untouched landscapes, breathtaking views, crisp air, and exhilarating snow-filled adventures.

However, the energy demands of mountain resorts come at a cost, threatening the very essence of a pastime tied to nature's winter beauty.

Ski lifts require constant power, resort buildings consume energy, snow groomers rely on fuel, and guests often contribute to large carbon footprints through long-haul flights.

In the face of climate change and rising temperatures, resorts depend on water-hungry snow machines to maintain enough snow for operations. This doesn't even account for the environmental and aesthetic damage caused by development in alpine regions.

Global emissions are climbing so rapidly that experts from the World Meteorological Organization predict we could experience another record-breaking hot year within the next five years, surpassing the previous high set in 2016.

The consequences of rising temperatures could be catastrophic for the planet, with many lower-elevation ski resorts already struggling due to a lack of snow.

Fortunately, ski resorts worldwide seem committed to combating the climate crisis, with hundreds of millions of dollars being invested in various green initiatives, ranging from localized resort improvements to sweeping, long-term changes.

Commitments

"It’s a global duty to take action," stated Gilles Delaruelle, head of tourism for Courchevel, a leading French ski destination and part of the expansive Les 3 Vallées region.

"We’ve observed climate change on the mountains—unusual temperatures, record highs at the peak, and snowfall not arriving as it once did, both in timing and volume. A lot is changing, and we must address it," he added.

"This is not just a marketing strategy; it’s a duty we all share for future generations. If we fail to protect nature, skiing could disappear for the generations to come."

The four largest ski operators in the U.S., managing 71 resorts across North America, have agreed to join forces to reduce energy consumption, pursue renewable energy aggressively, cut waste, and foster advocacy. These operators include Alterra Mountain Company (Mammoth and Steamboat), Vail Resorts (Vail, Park City, Beaver Creek, Whistler), Boyne Resorts (Big Sky), and POWDR (Snowbird).

"The ski industry relies entirely on a stable climate and pristine natural environments," said Auden Schendler, Senior Vice President of Sustainability for Aspen Skiing Company. "That’s our product, so it’s clear we must take action to protect it."

"We need to operate our lifts, heat our hotels and restaurants, and create snow. In every aspect, we ask ourselves, ‘How can we make these processes more efficient?’"

Schendler pointed out that while on-site sustainability efforts are "good business," it’s the advocacy, political influence, and grassroots movement-building that serve as Aspen’s primary tools in addressing climate change, leveraging the resort's global reputation to tackle the issue at its roots.

"The biggest climate impact a ski resort can have is by staying silent on the issue," said Schendler. "If you care about the environment, your responsibility goes beyond cutting energy use—it’s about ensuring your industry groups are advocating for climate policy, having your CEO educate both the public and your guests. That’s the real opportunity."

"Ski resorts consume significant energy, are major players in transportation emissions, and impact operations. However, by focusing advocacy efforts on reforming the energy system, you can address these challenges head-on."

Red herring

Schendler highlights a challenging 15-year initiative aimed at convincing Aspen Skiing Company’s utility, Holy Cross Energy, to transition from predominantly coal-powered energy to mostly renewables, with a target of achieving 100% renewable energy by 2030, up from the current 60%.

"It took a long time, and it wasn’t easy, but it changed not only us but also our competitors," said Schendler. "The key takeaway is that this is large-scale change, which isn’t something sustainability executives usually talk about."

Aspen played a pivotal role in the development of the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification for green buildings back in 1991, and is now working on creating all-electric buildings, along with a variety of solar projects to support its green energy needs.

However, Schendler cautions that carbon neutrality can sometimes be misleading, as paying for offset programs doesn’t bring about the deeper, systemic changes required.

The platform Save Our Snow, which tracks sustainability efforts across the world’s 250 leading ski resorts, reports that 58 of them are now fully powered by green energy, with 56 of those resorts generating some or all of their green energy on-site.

Vail Resorts reports that 85% of its energy comes from renewable sources as part of its EpicPromise initiative, aiming for net-zero emissions by 2030. Meanwhile, Big Sky Resort in Montana has been operating on 100% renewable electricity since 2021, and Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in Wyoming is fully powered by an Idaho wind farm.

In Europe, several ski resorts have been using 100% green energy for years, including St. Anton, Lech-Zurs, Seefeld, and Solden in Austria, Les 3 Vallées, Val d’Isère, La Plagne, and Les Arcs in France, Pyhä and Ruka in Finland, and Laax and Saas-Fee in Switzerland.

"Systemic solutions are the key to addressing climate change. We must reach net-zero emissions by 2050, or preferably sooner," said Dominic Winter of Protect Our Winters UK, a part of the global climate advocacy group founded by professional snowboarder Jeremy Jones in 2007.

Grooming

In resort towns, the largest contributor to the overall carbon footprint is often energy use, with snow grooming services also being a major source of emissions. A fleet of specialized machines smooths the slopes each night to improve the skiing and snowboarding experience.

Domaines Skiables de France reports that 94% of its greenhouse gas emissions come from the diesel used to power snow grooming machines, or piste ers. The remaining emissions come from lift operations (4%) and snowmaking (2%).

As a result, many resorts are collaborating with snow grooming machine manufacturers to test alternative fuel sources and next-generation groomers powered by hybrid diesel-electric, electric, or hydrogen engines.

The Compagnie des Alpes (CDA), which runs several prominent French resorts, including Val d’Isère, Tignes, Chamonix, and Les Arcs, will transition all 130 of its grooming machines to synthetic HVO fuel (hydrotreated vegetable oil made from waste) next winter. This change is expected to cut CO2 emissions by 90% and reduce fine particulate emissions by 65%.

The group, which is working with French manufacturer CM Dupon to develop electric and hydrogen-powered groomers as part of a commitment to become carbon neutral by 2030, estimates that using HVO fuel will reduce CO2 emissions by 9,900 tonnes, or 72% of the direct carbon emissions from all its mountain activities, excluding electricity. CDA will also train groomer operators and lift staff on the most efficient fuel-saving techniques.

SATA, the lift operator for Les Deux Alpes and l’Alpe d’Huez in France, revealed in January 2022 that it will collaborate with Green Corp Konnection (GCK) to convert five groomers and three buses to hydrogen. Meanwhile, Taos Ski Valley in New Mexico has announced plans to become the first U.S. resort to introduce an all-electric snow groomer.

"We have access to the greenest grooming machines available, but they are still niche technologies, so we're somewhat dependent on manufacturers," said Schendler. "The goal is to move away from diesel and towards electric, though hydrogen is likely the future. That technology is coming, but it’s not yet widely available."

Snowmaking

Snowmaking is the third key element of ski resort operations, essential for supplementing natural snowfall and ensuring that ski runs and other busy resort areas are adequately covered.

Snowmaking works by spraying a fine mist of water into the cold air, which freezes into snowflakes. In some areas, a biodegradable nucleating agent or organic particle is added to help ice crystals form more easily.

Val d'Isère, with its high altitude and geography—ranging from 1,800 to over 3,000 meters—allows it to stay open from November to May. Even so, 900 snow cannons cover 40% of the ski area, powered by a massive central ‘snow factory,’ the largest artificial snowmaking facility in Europe.

"This is a field we’ve been exploring for several years now, and it requires real technical expertise," says Aurelie Leveque, Operations Director for Val d’Isère Téléphériques.

Snow is created using only water, compressed air, and cold temperatures, and once the snow melts, the water returns to the environment.

The snowmaking process does not involve any chemicals or additives, and the water used is sourced from the drainage basin feeding into the Isère River, where it is filtered before being directed into the snowmaking system.

Critics argue that snowmaking depletes water resources and consumes excessive energy, with artificial reservoirs contributing to deforestation. However, Schendler believes the benefits outweigh the drawbacks.

"I’m not a big advocate for snowmaking, I don’t particularly like it, but it’s part of the business, and you have to do it as efficiently as possible," says Schendler.

"Snowmaking accounts for about 10% of total energy consumption annually, and the water usage is minimal in relation to the watershed. The technology has made it ten times more energy-efficient over the past decade," Schendler adds.

"In the future, I don’t foresee us using more energy to make snow. The need for snowmaking is simply to ensure the resort opens on time," says Schendler.

The broader environmental vision

Many resorts are adopting a more comprehensive approach to their environmental, social, and economic footprints. Sustainability programs now include measures to protect local wildlife and ecosystems, decommission outdated lifts, and reduce food miles in resort dining establishments.

In Courchevel, there are now more trees than when the resort was established in 1946. Meanwhile, Val d'Isere recently earned the French Flocon Vert sustainability certification and is making significant progress in protecting endangered black grouse.

However, the trend of resort expansion and the creation of mega resorts by linking neighboring ski areas is driven by commercial interests, though it often sparks significant controversy.

The long-discussed plan to connect the Otztal and Pitztal glaciers in Solden, involving new lifts, restaurants, and a tunnel, risks permanently altering the pristine high alpine environment and its biodiversity, according to critics.

Another major environmental concern for ski resorts is the substantial carbon footprint of visitors, particularly those flying in from abroad, contributing heavily to emissions.

A recent study from French ski resorts La Clusaz, Le Grand Bornand, and Tignes revealed that, on average, 52% of an individual’s carbon footprint for a day on the slopes comes from their travel to the resort.

In the mountains, sustainability appears to be more than just a trendy phrase; however, many eco-projects represent only a small part of the larger global challenge.

“Are we making progress? No. That’s clear,” said Schendler. “We need to reverse global CO2 emissions and start reducing them, but that’s not happening yet, so there's still much more to be done.”

Five eco-conscious resorts

Lech-Zurs, Austria: Four biomass heating plants now provide nearly all of the heating needs for households and businesses, reducing annual consumption by around eight million liters of heating oil and cutting CO2 emissions by 24,000 tons.

Courchevel, France: The launch of the Montagne, Ecology, and Technology start-up contest, with a 30,000-euro prize. The 2021 winner created innovative 100% recyclable skis, preventing 150,000 rental skis from ending up in landfills each year.

Morzine, France: The resort offers discounts to visitors who arrive by train, encouraging more sustainable travel and reducing carbon emissions.

Grindelwald, Switzerland: The new V-Cableway Eiger Express is powered by a combination of hydroelectric energy and CO2-neutral thermal energy from a local wood-fired heating plant that burns forest chips, sawmill waste, and discarded wood. The design also minimizes pylons, reducing deforestation.

Les Arcs-Peisey Vallandry, France: A new 10-seater lift now features solar panels to generate year-round electricity, while the heat produced by the lift’s motors is recycled for energy efficiency.