La Sambuy, a small skiing destination located near Mont Blanc in the French Alps, has made the difficult decision to dismantle its ski lifts and shut down permanently. The reason behind this decision is the shrinking ski season caused by global warming, which has made it financially unsustainable to keep the resort open.
In the past, La Sambuy used to have a ski season that lasted from December until the end of March. However, last winter saw only four weeks of snow, and even then, the snowfall was minimal. As a result, the ski slopes were quickly covered in rocks and stones, rendering them unsafe for skiing.
With only a few weeks of operations in January and February, the resort was facing an estimated annual loss of around 500,000 euros ($530,000). The cost of maintaining the ski lifts alone amounted to 80,000 euros per year. As a result, the town council of La Sambuy, which has been running the resort since 2016, made the difficult decision to close it down.
Although La Sambuy is not a large resort, it offered a range of slopes suitable for beginners to expert skiers. Its affordability and family-friendly environment made it a popular choice for those seeking a more low-key skiing experience in the Alps.
The resort's closure has also raised concerns about the impact of climate change on other ski destinations in France. Saint-Firmin, another small Alpine resort, decided to remove its ski lift last year after witnessing a similar decline in its winter season. Environmental groups in France, such as Mountain Wilderness, have been actively dismantling ski lifts in response to climate change, with 22 lifts already removed since 2001.
According to a report published in Nature Climate Change, more than half of the ski resorts surveyed in Europe are at risk of experiencing a significant decrease in snow supply with a 2-degree Celsius global warming above pre-industrial levels. This study, along with others, highlights the urgent need to address climate change and its impact on winter tourism.
While the closure of La Sambuy's ski resort is seen as a necessary response to the changing climate, not everyone is willing to accept it without a fight. An association called All Together For La Sambuy has launched a petition to keep the resort open by adopting a more sustainable model. Their proposal includes operating the chairlift during the summer season to attract visitors for activities such as hiking and outdoor sports. The petition has garnered over 1,900 signatures, and the association is pursuing legal action to reverse the town council's decision.
La Sambuy's mayor, Jacques Dalex, acknowledges that global warming is the main factor behind the resort's closure. He believes that ski resorts all over France are being impacted by climate change, particularly those situated at medium altitudes between 1,000 and 1,500 meters. Adapting to these new climate conditions is becoming increasingly challenging for ski resorts.
The closure of La Sambuy's ski resort serves as another reminder of the urgent need to address climate change and its impact on winter tourism. The loss of this beloved skiing destination not only affects the local economy but also highlights the need for sustainable practices and adaptation strategies in the face of a changing climate.