In a completely tone-deaf and ironic gesture, the Italian ski resort of Monte Bondone has tackled the challenges of a warming planet by contributing climate change.
The resort recently used helicopters to move snow to cover slopes, unsurprisingly drawing criticisms from environmental groups and defenders of mountain tourism alike.
Facing unusually warm temperatures and strong winds that wiped out natural snow cover on parts of the Palon slopes earlier this month, the company that manages the resort, Trento Funivie, resorted to flying artificial snow by helicopter.
Forty helicopter rotations
The process required around 40 helicopter rotations to bring enough snow, a costly and carbon intensive operation.
According to Trento Funivie president Fulvio Rigotti, the decision was driven by economic concerns. With only about 60% of the slopes open, the company risked losing hundreds of thousands of euros in tourism revenue.
A coalition of environmental organizations — including Extinction Rebellion and WWF — has strongly criticized the helicopter operation, calling it an “aggression against the mountain”.
Madness…
The intervention ignores climate realities and contributes to unnecessary CO₂ emissions, at a time when Alpine regions are experiencing higher freezing levels due to global warming.
The incident has ignited wider discussion in Italy about the future of mountain tourism amid climate change. It demonstrates the growing tension between economic and environmental realities.
Using helicopters to fly snow around the mountain is madness.
