The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina will have a profound impact on the region's snow, with potentially devastating consequences for some of the world's most vulnerable ski resorts. According to a recent report by the New Weather Institute, the event is expected to cause the loss of 5.5 square kilometers of snowpack and 34 million metric tons of glacial ice.
The emissions caused by the Games themselves are estimated to be around 930,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent. However, the report's authors have identified three major sponsors - Eni, Stellantis, and ITA Airways - as having a significantly larger impact on the event's overall carbon footprint.
Eni, in particular, is responsible for more than half of the total emissions generated by the top three sponsors, with Stellantis and ITA Airways coming second and third. The report suggests that Eni's involvement in the Games could result in an additional 1.3 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions.
This would translate to a further decline in snowpack and glacial ice, exacerbating the devastating effects of climate change on winter sports. In fact, the report estimates that the Milano Cortina Olympics will contribute to a loss of 3.2 square kilometers of snowpack and over 20 million metric tons of glacial ice.
The findings are alarming, especially considering that the Winter Olympics are already becoming increasingly vulnerable to the effects of global warming. Over the past five years, Italy has lost 265 ski resorts, France has seen more than 180 ski resorts shut down in the Alps, and Switzerland has closed over 50 ski lifts and cable cars.
While the International Olympic Committee (IOC) claims to have made significant progress in reducing the Games' emissions, with a goal of cutting them by 30% by 2024, the report highlights the need for greater accountability from sponsors. The authors argue that eliminating carbon-intensive sponsorships and replacing them with low-carbon partners could save around 1.4 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent without impacting funding.
Ultimately, the Milano Cortina Olympics serve as a stark reminder of the urgent need for sustainable practices in winter sports, particularly when it comes to tackling climate change. As Director of Scientists for Global Responsibility, Stuart Parkinson, puts it, "Winter sports can be part of the solution by cleaning up their act and abandoning dirty sponsors."
The emissions caused by the Games themselves are estimated to be around 930,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent. However, the report's authors have identified three major sponsors - Eni, Stellantis, and ITA Airways - as having a significantly larger impact on the event's overall carbon footprint.
Eni, in particular, is responsible for more than half of the total emissions generated by the top three sponsors, with Stellantis and ITA Airways coming second and third. The report suggests that Eni's involvement in the Games could result in an additional 1.3 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions.
This would translate to a further decline in snowpack and glacial ice, exacerbating the devastating effects of climate change on winter sports. In fact, the report estimates that the Milano Cortina Olympics will contribute to a loss of 3.2 square kilometers of snowpack and over 20 million metric tons of glacial ice.
The findings are alarming, especially considering that the Winter Olympics are already becoming increasingly vulnerable to the effects of global warming. Over the past five years, Italy has lost 265 ski resorts, France has seen more than 180 ski resorts shut down in the Alps, and Switzerland has closed over 50 ski lifts and cable cars.
While the International Olympic Committee (IOC) claims to have made significant progress in reducing the Games' emissions, with a goal of cutting them by 30% by 2024, the report highlights the need for greater accountability from sponsors. The authors argue that eliminating carbon-intensive sponsorships and replacing them with low-carbon partners could save around 1.4 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent without impacting funding.
Ultimately, the Milano Cortina Olympics serve as a stark reminder of the urgent need for sustainable practices in winter sports, particularly when it comes to tackling climate change. As Director of Scientists for Global Responsibility, Stuart Parkinson, puts it, "Winter sports can be part of the solution by cleaning up their act and abandoning dirty sponsors."
I mean, we're already seeing like 265 in Italy alone... 50 in Switzerland... it's crazy. And now they're saying the Milano Cortina Olympics could lose 3.2 square kilometers of snowpack and over 20 million metric tons of glacial ice? That's just devastating. What's gonna happen to all those people who depend on these resorts for their livelihoods?
We need to start taking action here, not just talking about it.
. But to have a sponsor like Eni alone causing more emissions than the whole event itself? That's just crazy talk! 
According to this report by the New Weather Institute, it sounds like Eni is single-handedly responsible for 1.3 million metric tons of extra CO2 emissions. What's going on here? Is ITA Airways and Stellantis not doing their due diligence? How can we trust the IOC if they can't even get their sponsorship situation under control? 
and it just goes to show you gotta be careful what you wish for with big events like this 
and I'm seriously worried about the impact on our snow-capped mountains. 5.5 sq km of snowpack is a huge loss, imagine all those sick skiing trails gone forever 
! And it's not just that, these Games are gonna add another 1.3 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions... talk about a toxic legacy 
. I'm glad the scientists are speaking out, we need to hold our sponsors accountable for their impact on the environment. Low-carbon partners should be the way forward, no more dirty sponsorships! 
. 5.5 square kilometers of snowpack lost already? And with more emissions from Eni and the others... it's just not good. I mean, I love skiing and winter sports as much as anyone, but we can't just ignore the impact on our planet. We need to make some changes now 
. The Olympics should be about more than just winning medals - they should also be about reducing our carbon footprint. And it's not like it's going to cost that much extra... 1.4 million metric tons less? That's a small price to pay for the future of our planet 
. We need sponsors who care about the environment, and we need the IOC to take action 
.
i mean 5.5 square kilometers of loss? that's crazy!! 
i mean, 1.3 million metric tons of extra emissions from Eni alone? that's just devastating 
the IOC is all like "we're reducing emissions by 30% by 2024" but it's not enough, you know? 
we need more accountability from those sponsors and some real change. and u know who else knows that? Stuart Parkinson 
he's like totally calling out the dirty sponsors and saying "winter sports can be part of the solution"... 
now let's do it! 
... those were the days. Now we're worried about climate change and pollution from a huge event? It's crazy! The impact on ski resorts is huge, like, 5.5 square kilometers of snowpack gone... imagine that in your backyard. And it's not just Italy, I remember watching the Alps get covered in fresh powder back in '02, but now they're losing ski resorts left and right 
. We need to make a change, like Stuart Parkinson said... clean up our act!
The 5.5 square kilometers of snowpack that's lost is huge! We already gotta deal with climate change, so when something as big as the Olympics comes along it just makes things worse 
That's crazy talk! And what about the carbon emissions from Eni and Stellantis? Like 930k metric tons CO2 equivalent? That's so wrong! 
I feel for those ski resorts, they're already struggling. We need to do something about this, like switching sponsors or something. It's not too late, but we gotta act fast! 
. It's heartbreaking to see Italy, France, and Switzerland lose so many. And now this Milano Cortina Olympics is going to make it worse? That's just devastating 
. Companies like that need to step up their game and find cleaner ways to do business. We can't keep relying on them to make our planet a better place 
. The IOC says they're doing something about it, but it's not enough 
. It's time for some serious changes in winter sports. We can't just keep playing with fire 
without getting burned 
.
. It's like, can't we do better than that? I mean, I know climate change is a big deal and all, but come on, let's not be so drastic 
. And those sponsorships? Really?! Eni alone is responsible for half of the emissions?! What's up with that? 
It feels like the Olympics are all about one-upping each other in terms of luxury and extravagance, without really thinking about the consequences for the environment. It's all about being a winner, not making a difference 
. It's like they're not even trying to hide it or anything. And now we're expected to just sit back and let them destroy those ski resorts? No thanks 
.
... I mean, I know they're gonna bring in a ton of cash for Italy and stuff, but think about all those ski resorts that are already struggling to stay open 
. It's like, if we lose 3.2 square kilometers of snowpack and 20 million metric tons of glacial ice, it's not just the skiers who'll be affected – it's the whole ecosystem 
. And all for the sake of a bunch of sponsors making a ton of money 
. Maybe they could look into replacing those big polluting sponsorships with more eco-friendly ones 
? That way, we can at least try to mitigate some of the damage 
lets make a change!