Faced with climate change, the ski resort model is “running out of steam”, according to the Court of Auditors

Only a few ski resorts could continue their activity after 2050, estimates a report from the institution.

Danger on French winter sports resorts. Climate change threatens “the economic model of French skiing”estimates the Court of Auditors in a report published Tuesday February 6 (PDF link). “Starting in the 2000s, the decline in ski activity and the growing unsuitability of the resorts’ real estate assets began to weaken the financial balance of the ski lifts and the local economy which partly results from it”underlines the institution.

The authors of the report estimate that all ski resorts in the national territory will suffer the consequences of global warming by 2050. And only “a few stations could hope to continue operating beyond this deadline.”

Artificial snow, a short-term solution

However, deplores the Court of Auditors, “the adaptation policies carried out by mountain stakeholders are essentially based on snow production” who has “a short-term effect” because “its cost is significant and its effectiveness tends to reduce with rising temperatures.”

Without forgetting “the impact of snow production on water resources” which appears “underrated in many territories”, underlines the report. According to the magistrates, “it would be necessary for authorizations to withdraw water intended for snow production to take greater account of climate prospects”.

A lack of coordination and planning

As for activities diversification actions, theyhave rarely been backed by a real project”judges the Court of Auditors. “Carried out over time, they often tend to reproduce the ski model, based on significant investments and high attendance, without a business plan to establish their economic relevance“. Furthermore, “the initiatives of local authorities are poorly coordinated with each other”.

The report also highlights “State ecological planning, not very operational for the mountain tourism sector”Who “does not allow us to stimulate a real dynamic of change”. The document considers that the same is true for the regions. The Court of Auditors also proposes to set up governance for mountain resorts that no longer falls solely on the municipal level. The institution finally suggests creating a climate change adaptation fund intended to finance actions to diversify and deconstruct facilities.

“We must very clearly change our vision, put in place new governance, broaden the focus, find resources – because we need some 92 million per year of investment which are not all investments in snow production – to achieve to a more diversified model, which is a ‘four seasons’ model and for all types of resorts”explained to the press the president of the Court of Auditors, Pierre Moscovici.