Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation in New Zealand Snow Tourism

Abstract

Snow tourism plays an important part in the winter experience of a growing number of enthusiasts across the world. Its strong reliance on weather and climate conditions means it is not immune to changes in climate conditions. The response to climate change generally involves adaptation to impacts and mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions. This study explores the awareness, perception, attitude and response to climate change within the New Zealand ski industry based on interviews with ski field managers and industry official, and questionnaires surveys with those participating in winter sports activities. It provides an overview of the level of consideration for climate change within five ski fields and among winter sports enthusiasts in the Queenstown Lakes Region and the Mackenzie country. While it is in their best interest to address such an issue, ski field businesses and winter sports enthusiasts do not necessarily comply with the recommended response to climate change because they are being influenced by a range of internal and external factors. At present, the level of planning for adaptation among the five ski fields surveyed is limited and the effectiveness of the voluntary initiatives that have been introduced to mitigate their impacts is questionable. Furthermore, their adaptive capacity to climate change impacts is being constrained by a range of factors. Despite the good intentions of winter sports enthusiasts and given the voluntary nature of mitigation initiatives addressed at them, they currently indulge freely in their favourite activity without adopting far reaching pro-environmental behaviours.