{"id":19790,"date":"2026-01-18T18:53:01","date_gmt":"2026-01-18T17:53:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/?p=19790"},"modified":"2026-01-21T14:40:19","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T13:40:19","slug":"beyond-the-slopes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/19790\/beyond-the-slopes\/","title":{"rendered":"Beyond the Slopes"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n
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Beyond the Slopes<\/h2>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Sophie Manusov<\/strong> and Quinty Setlight<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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Village of Faverges-Seythenex, by Quinty Setlight<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Many low- and mid-altitude ski villages are experiencing climate change up close. Due to financial considerations, the village of Faverges-Seythenex in the French Alps decided to close its ski resort. Residents of the village are still experiencing the consequences.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The ski season has started again, and tens of millions of Europeans travel to the Alps. Snowfall however has decreased compared to the past, undermining the tourism-based economic model on which residents of ski villages sometimes depend. Although other financial considerations also play a role, reduced snowfall is often seen by municipalities as the final straw leading them to close their ski lifts. This was the case in 2023 in the French village of Faverges-Seythenex, where the ski resort was used not only in winter but also during summer. Residents of the village are disappointed and continue to feel the consequences to this day.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Due to climate change, snow reliability in the Alps is decreasing. Snow now lasts 22\u201334 days less than in the past, and snow depth has dropped by about 40%, according to the International Cryosphere Climate Initiative. Artificial snow is a frequently used alternative, but it is not always possible due to high temperatures. According to Arjen de Graaf, commercial director of the Dutch Ski Association, artificial snow is nothing new. \u201cIt has been used on a large scale since the 1980s and its primary function is not to compensate for a lack of snowfall, but to improve ski quality. This is done by mixing natural and artificial snow.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Geographer Pierre-Alexandre Metral told Euronews that more than 180 ski resorts had to close in France since the 1970s. That\u2019s if we only look at one country, let alone the rest. Ski resorts all across the Alps are experiencing these problems. Especially low- to mid-altitude villages are being affected by climate change, but the size of the ski resort also matters. Smaller villages are hit harder because there is less money circulating in these municipalities.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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Solutions<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Climate change may be inconvenient, but according to Philipp Corradini, researcher at EURAC Research in South Tyrol, Italy, mountain villages can also use climate change to their advantage. In summer, the mountains become more attractive to tourists because of higher temperatures, but especially because \u201cno one wants to sit on a beach in Spain when it\u2019s 40 degrees,\u201d De Graaf laughs. Due to extreme heat in popular holiday destinations, people are looking for alternatives in summer. \u201cSki villages can also try to increase their popularity during the so-called shoulder seasons, spring and autumn. This reduces their dependence on winter and makes them less vulnerable,\u201d Corradini explains.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

In recent years, Corradini has worked with colleagues on the BeyondSnow project, which examined how thirteen villages could best deal economically with climate change. \u201cThat differs for each village,\u201d Corradini says. \u201cFor some, it makes sense to continue investing in infrastructure related to ski tourism for the time being; for others, it doesn\u2019t. One village\u2019s solution was to close certain slopes and keep the most popular ones open using artificial snow. Another village was able to invest in summer tourism.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Closing ski lifts<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\u201cThe closure of ski lifts cannot be attributed solely to climate change; it often also comes down to economic choices,\u201d says De Graaf. \u201cWhen a chairlift needs replacement, it costs a lot of money, and from an economic perspective it may not be worth it for a low-altitude area.\u201d This mainly concerns small ski areas. Multiple causes can play a role, with climate change sometimes being the final straw that leads a ski resort to close.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The village of Faverges-Seythenex is located in the Haute-Savoie in France. The ski lift leading to the small ski area of La Sambuy reached an altitude of about 1,850 meters. \u201cIf that is the highest point, ski tourism becomes quite challenging,\u201d says Corradini. Summer tourism also played a major role in the area, and the lift therefore used to operate during summer as well. However, the lift has been permanently closed since 2023 and was dismantled two years later, bringing both winter and summer activities on the mountain to an end. In the following video, you will get to know the village and hear a few personal stories from residents who have been affected by the closure.<\/p>\r\n