Travel
From the Alps to North America, we seek out ski resorts across the world that are striving for sustainable solutions to climate challenges.
ByAbigail Butcher
Published January 9, 2024
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK).
With winters in the mountains getting less predictable in terms of snow fall, ski resorts are pioneering sustainable practices that aim to phase out fossil fuels, lower carbon emissions and reduce waste. Galvanised into action after experiencing first-hand some of the earliest effects of climate change, alpine villages and towns have a long-term interest in safeguarding their delicate ecosystems. We selected six mountain towns that are pushing ahead with eco-initiatives that are setting the green standard for ski destinations worldwide, from solar-powered, on-demand ski lifts and fleets of electric vehicles as public transport to biofuel-fed piste-grooming machines and resorts that produce their own renewable energy.
1. Laax, Switzerland
Laax has been working towards operating sustainably since the 1970s and aims to be carbon neutral by 2030, eventually becoming an energy-producing resort. It’s currently constructing buildings that will produce more energy than they consume, and is phasing out fossil fuels. This winter, the resort will open the first ‘on-demand’ ski lift, which reduces energy requirements by removing cabins if they’re not being used. There are plentiful vehicle and bike charging points in resort and visitors are asked to donate 1 CHF (90p) per night of their stay to the Greenstyle Fund to help finance environmental projects in the area.
2. Skiwelt, Austria
This collection of resorts, which includes Söll, Ellmau, Westendorf and others, has won awards for its ecological endeavours. It installed the world’s first solar-powered lift in Brixen in 2008, and since 2017 has relied solely on local renewable energy, heating most of its buildings using biomass, wood pellets and heat-recovery systems. Car parks in Scheffau, Hopfgarten and Brixen have charging points for EVs and when skiers buy a day lift ticket they receive a code enabling them to charge their cars for free. Base and mountain stations across the ski area have waste-sorting systems. There are also train stations in three villages, with a free bus network servicing all lifts in the area.
3. Val-d’Isère, France
In 2021 the Flocon Vert-certified resort introduced two electric buses, and last winter (2022-23) ran all of its remaining buses on, reducing the greenhouse gas emissions of its free shuttle bus service by 90%. It plans to introduce 15 more electric buses by 2025. Last winter, 39 snow groomers were powered by HVO biofuel and the resort is currently looking at ways to reduce single-use plastic and limit vehicle traffic in its town centre.
4. Sälen, Sweden
Part of the Scandinavian SkiStar group of resorts, Sälen is using non-fossil fuel energy in all resort operations, which has cut carbon dioxide emissions by 90%. All ski buses run on HVO biofuel, as do all the resort’s snow groomers — reducing emissions by 67%. All 150 of the resort’s snowmobiles are now electric, and it operates an electric snow groomer, too. Charging points for EVs are installed as standard on all new builds. In 2023, Sälen opened a 7,000sq metre summer ski area of artificial grass made from sugar-cane derived plastic that’s biodegradable and compostable and closely simulates real snow.
5. Aspen, US
The Colorado resort published its first sustainability report in 1999, recognising that climate change poses an existential threat to skiing. In 2012, along with three partners, it opened a plant at the disused Elk Creek Mine to convert waste methane into usable electricity, reducing greenhouse gases and generating financial return. Committed to reaching net zero by 2030, Aspen is also served by the Environment Foundation, which is dedicated to protecting and preserving the region’s natural environment. Last year, the resort installed 40 EV charging stations, a significant number of solar panels and retrofitted LED lighting.
6. Whistler, Canada
Named one of Canada’s greenest employers as far back as 2009, Whistler has a hydro plant in the centre of its resort, on the Fitzsimmons Creek, which produces enough renewable energy for all its needs — 38 lifts, 17 restaurants, 269 snow guns and various other buildings and services. The resort has its own composting facility and has pledged to cut emissions by 50% below 2007 levels by 2030.
Published in the Winter Sports guide, distributed with the December 2023 issue of National Geographic Traveller (UK)
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