Adapting to Climate Change
As climate change continues to reshape mountain landscapes, ski resorts at lower altitudes are facing an uncertain future. Many are looking for ways to diversify their offerings beyond traditional alpine skiing.
Local organizations are playing a key role in this transition. One such association regularly hosts events to explore new opportunities for the future. Their next event, scheduled for spring, will focus on cycling—a growing activity in the region. Since 2018, La Morte/l'Alpe du Grand Serre has even been home to a bike park, offering a glimpse into what a future beyond skiing might look like.
l'alpe du Grand Serre 27 Feb 2025 (credit OT)
César Ghaouti is an optimist about his village’s prospects, the area could serve as a climate refuge for residents of Grenoble in the coming years. “We are on the front lines of climate change. We must not lose these territories, which remain pockets of cool air,” he claims.
“We Must Accept It: Within a Decade, Skiing Will Be Over”
Loïc Giaccone, a specialist in mountain resorts, warns that ski areas below 1,400 meters in altitude are particularly vulnerable to climate change. He argues that simply moving beyond an exclusive focus on skiing or snow-based activities is no longer enough—resorts must rethink their entire approach to tourism.
“There has been a noticeable decline in snowfall at mid-altitudes, leading to increasingly frequent ‘bad winters.’ Some resorts, already struggling, will gradually shut down due to lack of profitability. Running a ski station requires constant repairs and investment. While some resorts are adapting with artificial snow and lift maintenance, major investments—like purchasing a new chairlift—are now being delayed due to climate uncertainty. A ski resort’s closure isn’t just about snowfall; it’s an economic equation.”
What strategies should resorts adopt to survive?
“Many resorts, particularly in the Massif Central, Jura, Pyrenees, and parts of the Alps, face a stark choice: continue operating until it is no longer viable, or proactively transition away from alpine skiing. In the 1990s, the focus was on diversifying winter activities by introducing ice rinks and other snow-related attractions. Later, as awareness of climate change grew, resorts shifted towards year-round tourism. Now, we must go even further and rethink these regions beyond tourism alone.”
Are all ski resorts affected?
“The highest-altitude resorts have some flexibility, as they can gradually shift their ski areas to higher elevations. They know that parts of their terrain will remain viable until at least 2050. But for resorts that do not reach above 1,400 meters, we must accept the reality: within the next decade, skiing will be over. Some small and mid-sized resorts are already struggling today—soon, many more will face the same fate.”
This winter the ski resort of les Deux Alpes opened the Jandri 3S lift. Costing 148 million euros it is capable of carrying 3000 people per hour from the resort at 1600 meters to 3200 meters altitude. The commune hopes it will enable skiing to function beyond 2050 with the idea that the base of the pistes will be nearer 2000 meters altitude. In any case the area will need 30 years to pay back the massive investment.