Skiers to World: Save Our Slopes from Global Warming

A snowboarder protesting global warming in Pozan, Poland, where the U.N. Climate Change Conference is taking place.

Photo: AP Photo / Alik Keplicz

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Some of the world's top skiers and snowboarders demonstrated their skills, and their concern about global warming, Friday in Poland, as delegates from around the world continue the latest round of United Nations climate talks.

Organized by the global environmental group WWF, the snow sports icons drew attention to what will be the twilight of their sport, if nothing is done to slow and reverse global warming. Milder winters, less snowfall and retreating glaciers could seriously harm the sport not only for the world's elite athletes, but for amateurs around the world, including in the United States. Europe could end up with just 56% of its currently active ski slopes viable.

Among those demonstrating, and signing a petition in support of urgent U.N. action on climate change: Ted Ligety and Julia Mancuso from the U.S. and Magdalena Gwizdon and Tomasz Sikora from Poland. They are calling for what scientists have signaled is possible, and necessary: an 80% reduction in global carbon emissions by 2050, in order to prevent a rise in average world temperatures beyond 2 degrees Celsius, as well as an interim goal of a 25-40% reduction in industrialized nations by 2020.

"From the European Alps to the Asian Himalayas, the US Rockies and the Central American Andes, global warming means milder winters and less snowfall," the petition reads, in part. "Ice and snow are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of global warming, and as avid skiers and snowboarders we see our beloved sports endangered."

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