One of the most certain effects of less snow will be less skiing in the Rockies.
For example, according to a climate change assessment done for the City of Aspen, Colorado (a RMCO partner):
- By 2100, there will be no consistent winter snowpack at the base of Aspen's ski areas except possibly under the lowest greenhouse gas concentrations (B1) scenario.
- Snow quality will likely degrade more in the spring than fall.
- Under the highest emissions scenario, no skiable snow will exist at the base by 2100.
"This is not something we treat
as a tertiary issue.
This is front and center."
Michael Berry, President
National Ski Areas Association
“A related economic effect of decline in the ski
industry could be falling private-property values. . . .
[A] significant decline in skiing, or certainly its
complete demise, would mean serious economic
loss to the resorts, and to the economies of
communities heavily dependent on skiing.”
U.S. Global Change Research Program
Rocky Mountain/Great Basin Regional Climate-Change Assessment (2003) |
