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Article

Climate Change Adaptation of Alpine Ski Tourism in Spain

by
Luís Campos Rodrigues
1,2,*,
Jaume Freire-González
1,2,
Aina González Puig
1,2 and
Ignasi Puig-Ventosa
1,2
1
ENT Environment and Management, Sant Joan, 39, 1, 08800 Vilanova i la Geltrú, Barcelona, Spain
2
Fundació ENT, Sant Joan, 39, 1, 08800 Vilanova i la Geltrú, Barcelona, Spain
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Climate 2018, 6(2), 29; https://doi.org/10.3390/cli6020029
Submission received: 6 February 2018 / Revised: 5 April 2018 / Accepted: 12 April 2018 / Published: 17 April 2018

Abstract

Mountain ecosystems are considered to be vulnerable to climate change, with potential detrimental effects including the reduction of the snow seasons, the gradual retreat of glaciers, and changes in water storage and availability. One vulnerable sector to climate change is winter tourism, with some resorts likely to experience a significant reduction in the length of the skiing seasons and snow recreation areas throughout this century. This study assessed the vulnerability of 31 Spanish alpine ski resorts to climate change and evaluated the potential socio-economic and environmental implications of several adaptation measures. Results show that lower-altitude areas such as the Cantabrian Mountains and the Iberian System could be more vulnerable to climate change than higher-altitude areas of the Catalan Pyrenees or the Penibaetic System. Adaptation initiatives may include, inter alia, the production of artificial snow, the protection and conservation of the snow coverage area, and the diversification of recreation activities offered during the whole year. The study concludes that the design and implementation of adaptation strategies have to be adequate to the level of vulnerability associated with each resort as well as minimize their potential socio-economic and environmental costs.
Keywords: climate change; adaptation; winter tourism; alpine ski; Spain climate change; adaptation; winter tourism; alpine ski; Spain

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MDPI and ACS Style

Campos Rodrigues, L.; Freire-González, J.; González Puig, A.; Puig-Ventosa, I. Climate Change Adaptation of Alpine Ski Tourism in Spain. Climate 2018, 6, 29. https://doi.org/10.3390/cli6020029

AMA Style

Campos Rodrigues L, Freire-González J, González Puig A, Puig-Ventosa I. Climate Change Adaptation of Alpine Ski Tourism in Spain. Climate. 2018; 6(2):29. https://doi.org/10.3390/cli6020029

Chicago/Turabian Style

Campos Rodrigues, Luís, Jaume Freire-González, Aina González Puig, and Ignasi Puig-Ventosa. 2018. "Climate Change Adaptation of Alpine Ski Tourism in Spain" Climate 6, no. 2: 29. https://doi.org/10.3390/cli6020029

APA Style

Campos Rodrigues, L., Freire-González, J., González Puig, A., & Puig-Ventosa, I. (2018). Climate Change Adaptation of Alpine Ski Tourism in Spain. Climate, 6(2), 29. https://doi.org/10.3390/cli6020029

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