Switzerland’s Melting Winters: The Hidden Cost of Artificial Snow in the Alps

A Summer in Switzerland: Picture-Perfect, Almost

This summer, I travelled to Switzerland…which is, in my eyes, the most beautiful country on Earth. The majestic mountains, scenic lakes, gorgeous villages…it was almost a picture-perfect trip. I could only imagine how magnificent it would be in the winter. Snowy slopes, cozy chalets, skiers gliding down the Alps…that is what you’d also think of, right? But behind the scenes in this postcard-perfect destination, something is shifting. Winters are getting shorter, glaciers are melting, and natural snow is becoming unreliable. I said that the trip was almost picture-perfect because Switzerland’s climate is warming twice as fast as the global average, and I felt it.

The Climate Threat to Switzerland’s Ski Resorts

This changing climate, in particular, poses quite a threat to the glamorous ski resorts the country is famous for. Snow is becoming rarer because of rising temperatures and well…why will people ski if there’s no snow??

The Rise of Artificial Snow in the Swiss Alps

To keep tourism and business alive, ski resorts have turned to artificial snow. Huge snow cannons spit out a mix of water and compressed air which covers ski tracks in a manufactured white layer. In fact, more than half of Switzerland’s ski slopes rely on artificial snow today, and this number is only expected to rise.

The Environmental Cost of Artificial Snow

But of course, artificial snow doesn’t just appear. It needs a lot of resources:

• Water: Making artificial snow for a single ski slope can consume millions of litres of water each season.

• Energy: Snow cannons run on electricity that is often still coming from non-renewable resources.

• Ecosystem: Artificial snow is denser and melts later than natural snow. This delays the growth of mountain plants, disrupts natural habitats, and affects biodiversity.

  
  

Beyond the Slopes: What Artificial Snow Represents

This isn’t just about artificial snow or skiing…this is about how we respond to climate change. Sure, artificial snow looks like a simple solution which guarantees enjoyable skiing, but it doesn’t address the root cause. Short-term fixes can work to an extent, but real climate action is undeniably important. Can you imagine a world where snow, such a stunning feature of nature, is no longer natural but instead artificially manufactured for enjoyment?

Why Individual Climate Action Still Matters

Of course, governmental and institutional change will determine a lot of how the world combats climate change, but this doesn’t mean that we, as individuals, don’t do anything. No, we don’t all have to become climate scientists or Greta Thunbergs. All we have to do is make sustainability a part of our lives, a consideration that we keep in mind when we do something which can be potentially harmful to the planet. If we continue to do this, we can continue to enjoy our lives and make sure the planet does too.