Ski resorts respond to melting snow with sliding carbon levels

Many observers regard the global ski industry as the canary in the coal mine for economies attempting to come to terms with the risks posed by climate change. So it is little surprise that with their very existence under threat, growing numbers of ski resorts are taking urgent action to cut their carbon emissions

Released last week, The Sustainable Slopes Annual Report from the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) reveals that 68 of the 481 US ski resorts are now buying renewable energy credits designed to fund renewable energy programmes. This compares to 40 in 2006, which was the first year of the NNSA's Sustainable Slopes initiative, according to NSAA spokesperson Troy Hawks. Meanwhile, 34 resorts are this year carbon offsetting against more than 100 per cent of their power consumption.

Jiminy Peak resort in Massachusetts was the first in the country to install a wind turbine last year, added the report. The ski resort is generating 1.5MW of energy from the device. "There are also a few solar installments, the largest of which is at Aspen, Colorado," said Hawks.

The report also detailed the support of 70 ski resorts across the US for the Lieberman-Warner bill on global warming before its Senate failure in June.

Ski slopes are likely to be among the most affected businesses in the event of climatic change through global warming. "If the scientific predictions of climate change come to fruition, this would represent the biggest environmental threat to our industry," said Hawks.

In May, the US Climate Change Program predicted a 25 per cent decrease in rainfall in the south-western states, which encompasses the Colorado Rockies where the NNSA and many of its members reside.

In addition, there is a strong cost case for resorts to take action to curb energy use and emissions following the announcement last week that a coalition of western states is to implement a carbon cap-and-trade system by 2012. If successful, it could be extended to cover hotels and tourist resorts.