FIS and WMO Forge New Partnership to Address Climate Change’s Impact on Winter Sports

As global temperatures rise, the future of snow and ice-dependent activities, including skiing and snowboarding, is becoming increasingly uncertain.

The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) have announced a groundbreaking partnership to raise awareness of the severe impacts that climate change poses to winter sports and tourism. As global temperatures rise, the future of snow and ice-dependent activities, including skiing and snowboarding, is becoming increasingly uncertain.

In a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two organizations, FIS and WMO commit to working together to promote understanding of climate-related challenges, focusing on the reduction of snow cover, thawing permafrost, and retreating glaciers. This partnership marks the first time the WMO, a specialized United Nations agency, has collaborated with an international sports federation.

WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo expressed the urgency of the matter: “Ruined winter vacations and cancelled sports fixtures are – literally – the tip of the iceberg of climate change. Retreating glaciers, reduced snow and ice cover, and thawing permafrost are already reshaping mountain ecosystems and economies. These changes will have long-term repercussions at local, national, and global levels for centuries to come.”

FIS President Johan Eliasch echoed these concerns, stating, “Climate change represents an existential threat to skiing and snowboarding. While the crisis extends beyond sports, it’s essential for us to take action rooted in science and objective analysis. Our partnership with the WMO is a step in that direction.”

In the 2023/24 season, FIS organized 616 World Cup races across various disciplines at 166 venues. However, 26 of these races were cancelled due to weather-related issues, underscoring the immediate challenges posed by changing climate conditions.

Through this collaboration, FIS and WMO aim to foster practical initiatives, strengthen the dialogue between sports and science, and bring attention to the pressing climate issues affecting winter sports and mountain communities worldwide.