Key facts
- Swiss ski resorts are exploring using their snowmaking equipment and water infrastructure to combat forest fires.
- Adelboden-Lenk resort, which makes an estimated 70% of its snow artificially, has extensive underground water pipes and reservoirs.
- This infrastructure could be used to create wet buffer zones to slow fires and supply water to helicopters.
- Climate change is causing glaciers to retreat and snowfall to become less reliable in the Alps.
- Experts warn that while these adaptations may help temporarily, they do not address the root cause of climate change.
As climate change leads to warmer summers and increased wildfire risk, Swiss ski resorts are considering repurposing their snowmaking infrastructure to aid in firefighting efforts. Adelboden-Lenk, a mid-altitude resort that relies heavily on artificial snow, has an extensive network of underground water pipes and reservoirs that could be utilized to create buffer zones and supply water to emergency services.
Jürg Klopfenstein, who oversees snowmaking operations at the resort, stated that while the snow cannons themselves might not be directly used for firefighting, the underlying infrastructure, including water reservoirs that collect rainfall and melting snow, can be invaluable. Firefighters could potentially use this system to slow the advance of flames, providing crucial time until air support arrives.
Switzerland, while not experiencing the large-scale fires seen in some neighboring countries this year, is facing drought conditions, leading authorities to assess the wildfire risk as high across the nation, including the Bern region where Adelboden is located. Stefan Buchs, operations manager at the Adelboden-Lenk resort, acknowledged that while the Alps may not face the same direct risk as southern Europe due to different vegetation and humidity levels, widespread wildfires are still a likely scenario.
Adelboden Mayor Willy Schranz emphasized the need for preparedness, anticipating more summers like the current one. However, Nathan Solothurnmann, a climate change expert from Greenpeace, cautioned that such adaptations, while helpful in the short term, are not long-term solutions to the escalating climate crisis. He noted that most parts of Switzerland lack the extensive underground piping found in Adelboden, limiting the widespread applicability of this strategy.