Climate change threat to winter sports prompts agreement between ski chiefs and UN experts

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🗞️ Driving the news: The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) has partnered with the United Nations' World Meteorological Organization (WMO) to address the existential threat climate change poses to winter sports
• This comes after 26 World Cup races were canceled last season due to weather-related issues, highlighting the increasing impact of global warming on snow and ice

🔭 The context: With global temperatures rising, snow cover is declining, threatening the future of winter sports
• A 2022 International Olympic Committee report warned that by 2040, only 10 countries will have suitable conditions to host snow sports events, a critical challenge for skiing and snowboarding industries

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The decline of snow-based activities underscores the broader climate crisis affecting ecosystems and communities reliant on winter tourism
• If unaddressed, the continued warming of the planet will disrupt not just sports but also mountain environments globally

⏭️ What's next: FIS and WMO will gather national ski associations and event organizers next month to discuss solutions and practical initiatives to mitigate the impact of climate change on winter sports

💬 One quote: "Climate change is, simply put, an existential threat to skiing and snowboarding," - FIS president Johan Eliasch

📈 One stat: Last season, FIS canceled 26 of its 616 World Cup races due to weather-related disruptions

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