ABSTRACT
The latest report released by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) stated, ‘there is new and stronger evidence of observed impacts of climate change on unique and vulnerable systems…such as…high mountain communities and ecosystems’ (Meehl et al. 2007: 64). Given that mountain regions are highly susceptible to changing climatic conditions, in particular changing temperature regimes, a significant amount of research attention has been placed on identifying potential impacts and future outcomes for communities and businesses that rely on alpine environments. In particular the alpine ski industry has received detailed attention because of the sector's high cultural and economic importance in many regions (see Scott, Dawson and Jones 2008). Scott and McBoyle (2007) estimate the international ski industry to be worth over nine billion US dollars annually. In the United States, the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) reported revenues of almost US$3.3 billion per year (NSAA, 2006), western Europe and Japan each reported revenues of over US$3 billion (Lazard 2002), and Australia reported their ski industry to be worth US$1.3 billion annually (National Institute of Economic and Industry Research 2006).
