The Winter Olympics and Paralympics have long symbolized a celebration of snow, cold temperatures, and mountain landscapes, serving as a global platform for sports reliant on consistent winter weather conditions.
However, with the escalating temperatures and unpredictability of snowfall, the traditional basis of these events is increasingly unstable. Environmental specialists caution that Olympic organizers may be overstating the level of “sustainability” achievable for the Games.
As Italy prepares to host the upcoming Winter Olympics, followed by the Paralympic Games, the challenges posed by climate change are influencing decisions around planning, infrastructure development, and environmental commitments. These difficulties highlight the complexities of maintaining sustainability goals in the face of evolving climate patterns.
Acknowledging the issue, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) conducted a study in 2024 revealing that only around half of past Winter Olympics host cities would have suitable cold conditions to host the Games by the 2050s. The ski-resilience index from November 2025 indicated a growing vulnerability among many resorts, with Cortina d’Ampezzo, the primary venue for the upcoming Games, falling in the middle range.
Despite these challenges, the IOC asserts that it is on course to achieve its climate targets. The organization aims to reduce carbon emissions by 50% by 2030 and mandates host cities to utilize predominantly existing or temporary facilities. Competition sites must maintain a level of “climate reliability,” ensuring they are sufficiently cold and snowy to host events without excessive artificial interventions until at least the mid-21st century.
The temperatures in the Italian Alps are already exceeding long-term averages, with Milan experiencing February highs of up to 10.2°C and Cortina averaging around 4.2°C. The reliance on natural snowpack for fair competition is becoming increasingly unreliable, necessitating the use of artificial snow and refrigeration.
Organizers emphasize Italy’s history of prioritizing sustainability in large-scale event planning, citing previous initiatives such as the 2006 Turin Olympics and the 2015 Milan Expo as precursors to the current approach. The upcoming Winter Games in Milano-Cortina adhere to the ISO 14064 international standard for greenhouse gas reporting, committing to a comprehensive CO2 inventory by the end of 2026 with the aim of offsetting emissions.
However, sustainability efforts face significant challenges, particularly in accounting for spectator travel emissions, which often constitute a substantial portion of the environmental impact at major sporting events. While organizers advocate for sustainable transportation choices, the control over spectator travel behavior remains limited.
The Games present an opportunity to raise awareness about climate change, yet some critics question the efficacy of such awareness campaigns in the context of large-budget events. The complexity of balancing sustainability aims with the logistical demands of hosting a major international sports event underscores the ongoing debate surrounding the future of the Winter Olympics.