TL;DR
Eight major ski resort operators from Europe and New Zealand have formed the Global Sustainability Ski Alliance, aiming to reduce CO₂ emissions and promote sustainable practices in the ski industry.
Ski Resorts Join Forces for Climate Action
Eight major ski resort operators have come together to create the Global Sustainability Ski Alliance. This new group, announced at the Interalpin trade fair in Innsbruck, includes companies from France, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, Finland, New Zealand, Germany, Sweden, and Norway. Together, these resorts manage over 800 ski lifts and serve about 25 million skiers annually. The alliance aims to speed up climate action, lower CO₂ emissions, and develop sustainable innovations in the ski industry.
The Global Sustainability Ski Alliance recognises the urgent need to address climate change, which directly affects their business. Members are focused on reducing their environmental impact and changing their operations, from infrastructure to supply chain management. They plan to work with suppliers to develop low-carbon innovations and prioritise decarbonisation efforts.
The alliance will standardise environmental data collection and create performance indicators to monitor their impact. They're also upgrading infrastructure to improve energy efficiency and use renewable energy sources. These steps are designed to cut emissions and ensure the long-term viability of ski resorts.
Beyond environmental concerns, the alliance is committed to supporting local communities. They aim to have a positive impact on jobs, the local economy, and quality of life in ski resort areas. To make their efforts measurable, alliance members will share best practices for tracking and communicating their commitments to sustainability.
The ski resorts involved in this alliance include well-known names such as Compagnie des Alpes in France, KitzSki in Austria, Kronplatz in Italy, LAAX in Switzerland, and Levi Ski Resort in Finland. Other members are NZSki from New Zealand, Oberstdorf Kleinwalsertal Bergbahnen in Germany, and SkiStar, which operates resorts in Sweden and Norway.
These resorts have already implemented individual sustainability initiatives in recent years. Now, by joining forces, they aim to accelerate progress through shared knowledge, joint prioritisation of actions, and technical collaboration. The alliance's goal is to demonstrate that sustainable tourism in ski resorts is achievable, measurable, and economically viable.
By forming this alliance, these ski resorts are taking a proactive stance in addressing the challenges posed by climate change to their industry. Their collective efforts could serve as a model for other sectors of the tourism industry looking to improve their sustainability practices.
About the author
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
