As the effects of climate change increasingly jeopardise the viability of winter sports, the industry’s determination to respond with urgency continues to grow. Brands, resorts, manufacturers, federations, retailers, and advocacy organisations are strengthening efforts to reduce environmental impact and drive systemic transformation.

A united industry response

Since it launched in 2023, the Ski Industry Climate Summit has evolved significantly—moving from a conversation largely focused on product brands to a cross-sector, industry-wide collaboration platform. It now brings together ski and snowboard manufacturers, equipment brands, sports federations, retailers, resorts, and environmental organisations, all committed to shared solutions to shared challenges.

Jonas Schneider of Protect Our Winters (POW) Europe emphasised the importance of collective action, saying:

“Brands, resorts, sports federations, and more work together to create an inspiring winter experience. But with climate change challenging our industry, we must use that same collective spirit to drive meaningful progress. The Ski Industry Climate Summit is the place to do that.”

The event is hosted by Atomic, Protect Our Winters Europe (POW), and the Winter Sports Sustainability Network (WSN), supported by key partners including the Prowinter Show, the Federation of the European Sporting Goods Industry (FESI), Snowsports Industry America (SIA), and Peak63.

Driving solutions through collaboration

The 2026 Summit will open on 13 January with closed WSN working group meetings, focusing on applied technical sustainability topics such as ecodesign and recycling, life-cycle assessment (LCA) and decarbonisation, traceability and compliance, and climate advocacy.

The main conference, held 14–15 January, will explore the industry’s most pressing challenges and opportunities, including:

• Regulation and compliance shaping the sustainability agenda in Europe and the United States
• Market perspectives, trends, and the business impacts of the climate crisis
• Industry wins, showcasing proven solutions and collaborative success stories
• Ecosystem challenges, where collective action can deliver the greatest impact

Evening networking and cross-sector sessions will create further opportunities for practical alignment and partnership development.

Speaking about the importance of the Summit, Jerome Pero from FESI said:

“This summit is more than a conference. It’s where the ski industry defines its future. New entrants will find valuable updates on regulatory dynamics, direct access to innovators and decision-makers, and unmatched networking opportunities to accelerate growth and impact, because no one can take on the sustainability challenges on their own.”

The organising partners—Atomic, POW Europe, and WSN—reinforced the industry’s shared responsibility in a joint statement:

“The winter sports community has both the responsibility and the potential to lead on climate action. Collaboration across all sectors—from factories to mountain resorts—is key to shaping a viable future for our sport.”

Looking ahead

Participation in the Summit is open to all industry stakeholders for a reasonable fee, and the organisers encourage broad involvement to support real-world solutions that reduce emissions, improve material cycles, and strengthen climate advocacy. Full details and registration are available through the event website.