In just 25 years, dozens of places will be too warm to host the Winter Olympics

illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on CNN or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: The future of the Winter Olympics is at risk as climate change reduces snowfall and raises temperatures, making it harder for traditional winter sports to thrive
• Experts warn that the rising temperatures will limit future host cities
• A study projects that by 2050, many potential Olympic host cities will no longer be cold enough to hold winter sports events

🔭 The context: As global temperatures rise, snowpack is shrinking and snowfall is declining, making it increasingly difficult to host the Winter Olympics in many traditional locations
• By 2050, only a few cities are projected to have reliable conditions for winter sports without relying on artificial snow, which brings its own environmental concerns
• The Olympics are thus facing pressure to adapt or reconsider their sustainability

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The reliance on artificial snow highlights the environmental cost of maintaining the Winter Olympics amid climate change
• Snowmaking requires significant energy and water resources, contributing to further environmental degradation
• Additionally, the shrinking snowpack impacts crucial ecosystems and water supplies for billions of people

⏭️ What's next: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is exploring more flexible approaches, such as merging the Olympics and Paralympics or moving events earlier in the year
• Future hosts will be required to meet climate action commitments, but the viability of the Winter Olympics remains uncertain

💬 One quote: "Climate change isn’t theoretical; it’s happening on our racecourses and in our training every day,” said Olympic skier Jessie Diggins

📈 One stat: Temperatures in Cortina d'Ampezzo, the venue for the 2026 Winter Games, have risen by 6.4°F (3.6°C) since 1956

See on illuminem's Data Hub™ the sustainability performance — carbon credit purchases, total emissions, and climate targets of thousands of companies

Click for more news covering the latest on sustainable sport