| GREEN | | | | campaign to raise awareness on what resorts need |
| Summer is over and sights are set for the coming | | | | to do to protect the environment but also gives the |
| winter ski season. Let’s hope for better snow | | | | general public information on which resorts are better |
| in Europe than we had last year. To be fair, after a | | | | than others. If this gives resorts the added incentive |
| very poor start, snow fell later in the season and | | | | to improve their practices and become more |
| most resorts fared better than had been feared but | | | | eco-friendly then so much the better. Solar and |
| even so 2006 will go down as a poor season in | | | | biomass powered lifts are a new innovation and |
| Europe though much better in the USA and Canada. | | | | watch out for more car free areas in resorts. Better |
| And if the forecasts are correct, the El | | | | recycling, less reliance on plastic, less use of chemicals |
| Nino’ effect will bring even better conditions | | | | in snow making and more widespread use of |
| across the Atlantic for 2007/8. But what about | | | | alternative energy supplies are further examples at |
| Europe which still attracts the majority of British | | | | the seriousness that some resorts have taken on |
| skiers? There have been worse seasons in Europe | | | | this issue. There is widespread agreement and |
| than last year — the end of the 1980’s | | | | greater awareness that a do nothing’ |
| were notably bad but resorts across Europe are | | | | policy is just not an option these days. |
| rightly worried that climate change’ is a | | | | If this also improves the snow conditions, then so |
| serious enough threat for them to look at measures | | | | much the better! For those contemplating a week or |
| to improve their green credentials.’ | | | | two on the slopes this winter then it is advisable that |
| Resorts at lower altitudes are right to be worried as | | | | they buy a travel insurance policy that covers them |
| a 2 degree C rise in temperature over the next | | | | for poor snow conditions. Most travel insurance |
| century is enough to remove almost a third of ski | | | | policies offer cover to compensate for lack of snow |
| stations across Europe. The Ski Club of Great Britain | | | | (or too much) with the offer extending to bussing to |
| has launched its Green Respect the Mountain | | | | other higher resorts if their resort closes. |