The two organizations said on Thursday that the partnership is aimed at drawing attention to the massive impact of global warming on ice. Besides, steps will be taken to strengthen scientific and sports discussions.
The partnership will begin before the 2024/2025 winter sports season and will initially run for five years.
huge problem
WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo says the impacts of climate change on winter sports and tourism are just one part of a much bigger problem.
“Factors such as melting glaciers, declining ice cover and shrinking ice sheets are having major impacts on mountain environments, communities and economies, and they may increase at local, national and global levels for the next century,” he said. This will have dire consequences.”
FIS President Johan Elias also agreed, saying, “Naturally, the climate crisis is a bigger crisis than FIS or sports. “In fact, it’s a real crossroads for humanity,” but he noted that its impact on sports is already visible.
In 2023 and 2024, the FIS had to cancel 26 of the 616 World Cup events due to weather.
Johann Elias said, “We would make a mistake if we did not apply all possible efforts rooted in science and practical analysis.”
Cold effect
Many studies have looked at how climate change has affected winter sports and tourism. One of these studies, conducted in Switzerland, showed that since 1850, 60 percent of the volume of alpine glaciers had been lost.
Another study found that winters are getting slightly warmer.
Each year, WMO and FIS will identify implementable measures, starting on 7 November. On that day, a webinar will be held for national ski organizations on the impact of global warming on the entire sports industry.