Summary

Climate change is significantly reducing snowpack and shortening ski seasons, leading to billions of dollars in economic losses and threatening the long-term viability of ski resorts, especially in lower-elevation regions like the U.S. Northeast and Quebec. While adaptation strategies such as snowmaking can help, they are costly, energy-intensive, and ultimately limited as warming continues. The impacts are unevenly distributed, with small communities, seasonal workers, and lower-income skiers bearing the greatest burdens.

Regional Case Studies

• Colorado Rockies: Higher elevations (up to 14,000 ft) provide a temporary buffer against warming. However, average temperatures have risen 2°C since the 1980s, leading to snowpack decline and water-use conflicts.

• US Northeast/Quebec: Experience faster season shortening due to lower elevations (~2,000 ft base) and increased freeze-thaw cycles. This region faces potential collapse, with half of its ski resorts projected to go out of business by 2050.