Rising temperatures and shrinking snowfall are prompting Europe’s ski resorts to reconsider how they operate, as the effects of climate change increasingly impact winter sports. With the Winter Olympics set to open in Milan-Cortina on February 6, some slopes in the Dolomites remain covered in snow, but in many areas, natural snowfall is unreliable. Resorts now depend heavily on artificial snow, a costly and environmentally taxing solution that is driving up ski pass prices and putting skiing out of reach for many Europeans.

Italy’s Belluno province, home to some of the country’s most famous slopes, illustrates the challenge. Scientists and Olympic officials warn that warming temperatures are affecting the entire Alpine region. A 2021 study by the University of Waterloo found that if global warming reaches four degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, only four former Winter Olympic sites worldwide would remain suitable for snow sports by mid-century. Even if global warming is limited to two degrees Celsius, half of current Alpine locations would struggle to host winter events.

Europe’s winter tourism industry, which generated roughly €180 billion in 2022, is concentrated in the Alps, spanning five EU countries, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland. Germany has the most ski resorts in Europe, with 498, followed by Italy with 349 and France with 317. A 2023 study published in Nature Climate Change estimates that 53 percent of European resorts are at very high risk of insufficient snow under a 2°C warming scenario, with almost all resorts in southern Europe, including the Pyrenees and Apennines, at severe risk.

Artificial snow is being used to supplement natural snowfall, but it comes with high costs. Producing snow on a one-kilometer slope can cost €30,000 to €40,000, while water and electricity consumption are considerable. Snowmaking for one hectare of slope requires about one million liters of water, roughly equivalent to the annual consumption of 1,500 households. Across Europe, operating artificial snow systems for all Alpine resorts would consume around 600 GWh of electricity, comparable to the yearly usage of 130,000 four-person households.

These expenses contribute to rising ski costs. In the past decade, the price of a daily ski pass has increased by an average of 34.8 percent, with the steepest hikes in Switzerland, Austria, and Italy. For example, a Dolomiti Superski pass now costs up to €86 per day, up from €67 in 2021, while in Livigno, prices have risen from €52 to €72 over the same period. Rising costs, combined with the need for equipment and clothing, are making skiing increasingly unaffordable for most local families.

Experts warn that resorts able to maintain snow will likely attract wealthier international tourists, from countries such as the United Kingdom, Spain, and Greece. While this may provide economic benefits, it also raises environmental concerns, as additional travel increases greenhouse gas emissions, further fueling climate change.

François Hugues, a researcher at the French National Institute for Agriculture, Food and the Environment, says, “Even resorts less impacted by warming need to rethink their business models and adapt to global warming, balancing economic survival with environmental sustainability.”