Climate change threatens Alpine resorts

2007-06-06 10:52:40

Wed Dec 13 2006, 7:37 PM ET

PARIS - Global warming poses a serious threat to Alpine ski resorts and the

regional economies that depend on them, especially in Germany.

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, which carried out a

study of ski areas across the Alps, said Wednesday the mountain chain was

"particularly sensitive" to climate change.

"Recent warming there has been roughly three times the global average," the

report said.

Studies show that 1994, 2000, 2002 and 2003 were the warmest years on record in

500 years, the Paris-based organization said.

"Climate model projections show even greater changes in the coming decades,

with less snow at low altitudes and receding glaciers and melting permafrost

higher up," it said.

The World Cup ski circuit has already been affected by lack of snow this

season, with several races called off. On Wednesday, the international ski

federation canceled next week's women's slalom in the French resort of Megeve.

Two freestyle World Cup events and a snowboarding competition were also called

off.

Germany is likely to suffer the most from climate change, the OECD report said.

Warming of 1 degree Celsius would cause a 60 percent drop in the number of

areas where there is reliable snow.

Switzerland is the least at risk. Austria and Italy are slightly more sensitive

than average, while France has average risk, according to the report.

Certain regional economies face greater dangers than others, and low-altitude

areas are more vulnerable than high-altitude regions. The Alpes Maritimes

region of France, Styria in Austria and Friuli-Venezia Giulia in Italy would be

more affected than Grisons and Valais in Switzerland and Savoie in France, the

OECD said.

The 30-nation OECD includes the United States, Japan and most

European Union members.