On Thin Ice: Winter Sports and Climate Change

Published by: David Suzuki Foundation
Authored by: Ian Bruce
ISBN: 978-1-897375-24-2

Climate solutions sports and recreation, decarbonization, community and culture, policy and regulation, 2010 Olympic Games, greenhouse gas emissions, energy, industry, water systems, climate change, renewable energy

The future of winter sports is at risk due to global warming, according to On Thin Ice: Winter Sports and Climate Change. By 2050, if we fail to take immediate action on climate change, a whole range of winter activities across Canada, from Olympic sports like skiing and snowboarding to iconic Canadian pastimes such as ice fishing and pond hockey will be at risk.

On Thin Ice offers comprehensive climate solutions geared to every sector of society, including winter sports enthusiasts and industries, the Vancouver Olympic organizers and governments.

Recommendations include:

• Ensuring that all major emissions from the 2010 Olympic Games, including spectator air travel, are measured, reduced where possible, and offset.
• Developing a national climate change action strategy for Canada’s winter tourism and ski industry to advance government climate change policy as well as solutions for the industry, including required targets for renewable energy power.
• Implementing an action plan to meet Canada’s international commitments by reducing emissions to safe levels as supported by science (25 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020, and at least 80 per cent below 1990 levels by 2050).