Climate change

Sustainability isn’t just about reusing that towel for a second day, It’s thinking deeply about how visitors get in and out of a destination while doing the least harm. - Jason Clampet

Somethings to consider

  • Climate change and global warming often used interchangeably. Should we be doing this?

  • No! They are different

  • Climate change is a long-term process that occurs over thousands of years

    • May not be noticeable to us

  • Global warming is the noticeable change we are experiencing

    • Better to call it global weirding. Why?

What is Happening?

  • Since the 1880s, global temperatures on average have increased by 2.2 degrees Fahrenheit.

    • Most noticeable changes during the late 20th century

    • In U.S., more record highs than record lows

  • Also, noticeable increases in ocean temperatures

    • Increases of 1.5 degrees Fahrenheit since 1901

More evidence of impacts

  • Ice in the arctic is shrinking by 13% a decade, with some reports up to 95%.

    • Potential iceless summer by 2040 in arctic

  • Arctic tundra will be severely reduced by 2050

  • What are some other noticeable impacts of global warming?

  • Why is this happening?

Some Global Warming Basics

  • Increases in greenhouse gases causing the odd changes in temperature and weather

  • Are greenhouse gases technically bad?

    • No!

    • Without the greenhouse effect and greenhouse gases, life on Earth is not possible

  • The issue is the unnatural release of pent-up greenhouse gases.

Tourism and Hospitality Impacts

  • Overall impact is 5%

    • Travel is the biggest contributor

    • Accommodation sector contributes 21%

  • Coastal and mountain regions highly impacted

    • Climate still drives a large portion of tourists

  • Many indirect impacts

    • Droughts, disease, algal blooms, wildfires

  • Certain countries, destinations take the brunt, even though impact is small.

General Impacts of Accommodation Sector

  • Impacts highly dependent on level of accommodation

    • Hotel average use 20.6 kg CO2

    • Campsite average 7.9 kg CO2

  • Must take into account level of accommodation

  • Weaker adaptive capacity

    • Tied to location. Cannot easily move

    • Appeal and fortune tied to destination

General Economic Impacts

  • All business is facing negative impacts from global warming

  • Here are some to consider

    1. Lack of sources - water, food and energy

    2. Insurance costs

    3. Political instability

    4. Reputational damage

    5. Operational Impacts

Impacts of Climate Change

  • Low lying, reliant on fresh water, dense populations, fragile resources base

  • Reliant on environment for tourism

  • Providencia

    • Small island off the coast of Colombia, part of UNESCO Seaflower Biosphere Reserve

    • Second largest living reef in the world

  • Changes in predictable rainy season, algal blooms, rising sea levels, lion fish, coral bleaching

  • Very little industry on the island - little climate change impact

Impacts to the Ski Industry

  • Like many travel and tourism related industries, skiing is highly reliant on the environment

    • Not just about amount of snow

    • Quality of snow

    • Optimal temperatures

    • Danger

    • Operating season

    • Droughts

Ski Impacts

  • Impacts of global warming challenging to classify. Why?

    • Location

    • Altitude

    • Temperature change

    • Tourist perceptions

    • Behavioral responses

Lack of Snow

  • Lack of snow

    • Low altitude resorts see decrease in demand; glacier areas more demand

    • No snow in urban area = perception of no snow

    • Depends on area

    • Lack of natural snow causes closure in New England, no impact in Austria?!?

    • Increases in temperatures reduces reliability of ski areas

Snow Making

  • Snow making can offset some impacts of global warming

    • Helps maintain length of seasons in many areas

    • Stop reduction of reliable ski areas

  • What are problems with snow making?

    • Produces green house gases

    • High water content; snow quality decreases

Ski Tourism Leakage

  • Skies have to migrate and travel to find acceptable conditions and snow quality

    • More travel = greater GHG creation

    • Short seasons = less time = more crowds

    • Activity substitution

Alta Ski Resort

  • Located out side of Salt Lake City, Ut

    • 500 inches on average

    • “Best snow on Earth”

  • Snow pack has decreased

  • Quality of snow decreasing

  • Purchased snow making equipment

  • Unpredictable winter = crowding