Climate change and skiing: the future of the Italian Alps

The Alps are warming at twice the global average rate. Over the past 50 years, the mean temperature across Italy’s mountains has risen by about 2°C, with concrete consequences for skiing and the entire mountain economy. This is not alarmism: it is the reality Italian ski resorts face every day.

The data: what is happening

Rising temperatures

The Alps are warming at 0.3°C per decade
The freezing level (the altitude at which the temperature is 0°C) has risen by about 400 metres since 1970
Days with above-zero temperatures in winter at 1,500 m have increased by 30%

Declining snowfall

The duration of the snow cover at 1,500 m has shortened by about 30 days over the past 50 years
Snowfall below 1,500 m has decreased by 20-30%
Reliable natural snow is now found above 1,800-2,000 m (it was 1,200-1,500 m in the 1980s)

Glaciers in retreat

Italy’s glaciers are disappearing at an accelerating rate:

The Marmolada glacier, the largest in the Dolomites, has lost 70% of its surface area since 1900
Several small Apennine glaciers (such as the Calderone on the Gran Sasso) have already disappeared
The Presena glacier, where summer skiing takes place, uses geotextile covers over exposed areas to slow melting

The impact on ski resorts

Resorts at risk

The most vulnerable ski resorts are the ones at low altitude:

Altitude band	Risk level	Examples
Below 1,200 m	Critical	Many small Apennine resorts
1,200-1,600 m	High	Monte Terminillo, Abetone
1,600-2,000 m	Moderate	Bormio, Cortina
Above 2,000 m	Low (for now)	Cervinia, Livigno

Closures and downsizing

Over the past 20 years, more than 200 small ski resorts in Italy have closed permanently
Many Apennine resorts have cut their operating days by 30-40%
Snowmaking costs rise every year

Dependence on snowmaking

Today more than 90% of Italian slopes rely on snowmaking. But this technology also has limits:

Temperatures below -2°C are needed to produce snow
Warm winter nights reduce the production window
Energy costs are rising
Storage reservoirs require enormous investment

For more on the technology, read our article on how machine-made snow works.

Adaptation strategies

Italian ski resorts are responding in several ways:

1. Moving higher

Many resorts are investing in new lifts at higher elevations:

Livigno: new lifts towards Carosello 3000
Val di Fassa: connections to areas above 2,500 m
New chairlifts and gondolas reaching higher summits

2. Diversification: the mountain beyond skiing

The most forward-looking strategy is turning resorts into four-season destinations:

Hiking and mountain biking in summer
Thermal baths and wellness: Bormio and its thermal spas
Food and wine: mountain huts as dining destinations
Adventure: via ferratas, climbing, paragliding
Culture: museums, events, local markets

3. Snow farming

Snow farming (storing snow over the summer) is an innovative technique:

Surplus snow is piled up in spring
Covered with insulating sheets, it loses only 20-30% during summer
In autumn it is spread on the slopes so the lifts can open earlier
The Stelvio Pass has used this technique for years

4. Renewable energy

Some resorts are installing solar and hydroelectric power to offset the energy used for snowmaking:

Solar panels on lift buildings
Micro-hydro plants on mountain streams
Energy recovery from cable cars on the way down

Future scenarios

The 2040 scenario

With current trends:

Resorts below 1,500 m will face growing difficulties
Snowmaking will become increasingly expensive and less efficient
Resorts that invest in diversification will survive
The large high-altitude resorts (Cervinia, Livigno, Val Gardena) will remain competitive

The 2060 scenario

Reliable natural skiing only above 2,200-2,500 m
Many mid-altitude resorts will become summer destinations with limited skiing
The ski season may shrink to 3-4 months (December-March) in Alpine resorts
Skiing in the Apennines will largely disappear

What skiers can do

Choose sustainable resorts: reward resorts that invest in the environment
Avoid waste: do not demand perfect slopes at any cost
Explore alternatives: ski touring, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing
Support the local economy: mountain huts, local produce, guides
Offset emissions: driving to the mountains has an impact

Skiing in the Alps will not disappear, but it will change profoundly. How well resorts and skiers adapt will decide the future of this industry, and of the sport we love.

For current conditions and the snow report, see our mountain weather pages.