The Alpe du Grand Serre ski resort, in France, has for decades been one of the most popular destinations for the 450,000 inhabitants of the 49 municipalities that make up the Grenoble metropolitan area, at the foot of the western Alps. Located in the municipality of La Morte, it sits at the gateway to the Oisans mountain massifs, whose peaks brush the four-thousand-metre mark.

Alpe du Grand Serre, a resort that has enjoyed golden seasons

It is precisely its proximity to a medium-to-large city that has allowed the resort – which is also one of the favourite destinations for people from Grenoble in summer – to develop over time. It is not one of the mega-resorts that characterise some French alpine valleys, but it is perfect for families, children and those who want to learn to ski. It boasts 220 hectares of slopes and 14 ski lifts, including drag lifts and chairlifts, at altitudes ranging from 1,370 to 2,180 metres.

However, as is often the case for ski resorts whose valley stations are located below 1,500 metres, from a climatic standpoint the situation looks increasingly difficult. In recent years, seasons have shortened significantly. Snowfall has decreased. And financial balance has inevitably suffered as a result.

The closure announced in September

For this reason, last September, local authorities decided to no longer grant subsidies to the ski lifts. After having spent 2.8 million euros to support the resort and attempting to keep it running in summer for mountain bikers and hiking enthusiasts, the public authorities had decided to give up: it was impossible to continue. And so, closure was announced.

A devastating blow for those whose livelihoods depended on winter sports, starting with local business owners. Yet the final word had not been spoken. A citizens' collective mobilised, also with the participation of the Municipality, and managed to raise 300,000 euros – just enough to ensure the resort would open for the 2024–2025 season.

Solidarity allowed the resort to survive another year

Solidarity proved strong not only in financial terms: during the Christmas holidays, thousands of people chose Alpe du Grand Serre precisely to show their support. As many as 16,852 skiers purchased a ski pass – a figure up 30 per cent compared to previous seasons.

Similarly, hotels and other accommodation facilities were filled to 90 per cent of their capacity. "It has been a long time since the season started so well," commented mayor of La Morte Raymond Maslo with satisfaction, expressing hope that this could provide momentum for winters to come: "We will not give up."

The ski resort's story teaches us that waiting is no longer an option

The resort is open at present. What next year will bring remains to be seen – no one can make predictions given the current situation. But the lesson to be drawn from the story of Alpe du Grand Serre – as with hundreds of other ski resorts – is that waiting is no longer an option. The survival of tourism in these areas cannot rest solely on the solidarity of local people: transition and adaptation plans in response to climate change are needed. Numerous studies indicate that the rise in average global temperatures will make it inexorably difficult to continue depending on a business that will gradually shrink to just a few weeks a year.

A study published in 2023 in the scientific journal Nature Climate Change presented the findings of an analysis of 2,234 ski resorts across 28 European countries. It revealed that "in the event of climate warming of between 2 and 4 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, without artificial snowmaking, up to 98 per cent of sites will be exposed to episodes of extreme snow scarcity."

In Switzerland, the winter zero-degree isotherm has risen from 600 to 850 metres in 50 years

Another analysis, focused specifically on Switzerland, indicated that Alpine glaciers have already lost around 60 per cent of their volume since 1850. Furthermore, during winter months the zero-degree isotherm has risen to an average altitude of 850 metres, compared to 600 metres fifty years ago. And by 2060, it is projected to reach 1,300–1,500 metres.

For ski resorts and winter sports, then, a profound rethink is needed – or they risk finding themselves suddenly stripped of subsidies, income streams and customers. Particularly for mid-mountain infrastructure, adaptation to the climate crisis must be implemented as far in advance as possible.