How climate change is threatening Indian winter sports

The quaint town, when draped in white snow, transforms into a major hub for adventure enthusiasts, winter sports aficionados, and the common man alike.

Simply put, it leaves everyone enchanted.

But without its snow cover, Gulmarg struggles. Everyone and everything associated with it struggles.

Earlier this month, for the second time in as many years, the Khelo India Winter Games – a flagship program for winter sports in the country – was postponed indefinitely.

The reason? Lack of snow.

Athletes left high and dry

“We scheduled the competition for February because we always get snow accumulated from January,” said Rauf Tramboo, the President of the host federation Winter Games Association of Jammu and Kashmir, to The Bridge.

There is usually always adequate amount of snow around this time of the month in the region. This, along with pleasant weather conditions make Gulmarg one of the very few places in India ideal for winter sports to thrive.

The lack of snow and the subsequent postponement of the 2025 Khelo India Winter Games has left athletes – around 300 of them – who were supposed to compete, high and dry.

This, however, is part of a larger trend in the region. Climate Change.

The entire Himalayan region, in recent years, has seen reduced snow cover. The snowline on Mount Everest is depleting and quite visibly, there is a lack of snow at the lower levels.

According to glaciologist Mauri Pelto, the only January with snowline around the normal levels in the region was in 2022. Every other year from 2021-2025, the snowline has been lower than usual, highlighting a new normal.

The winter in the region has been drier than usual in this new normal, often contributing to wild fires as was seen in Ganderbal – some 60kms from Gulmarg – earlier this month.

The situation, however, is not limited to the subcontinent alone. Changing weather patterns have raised alarms across the globe, including in Europe and the other western countries.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach had raised concerns about the same at the 141^st IOC session in Mumbai – the first-ever hosted by India – in October 2023.

“It is a serious threat. We need to address very quickly, this dramatic impact of climate change on winter sport,” Bach had said.

“By mid-century, there will remain practically just 10-12 NOCs (National Olympic Committees) who could host these snow events,” he added.

Artificial enablers

While artificial snowmaking has helped combat the impact of climate change on winter sports over the years, even that is becoming difficult to sustain in recent years, according to Dr. Daniel Scott, Professor and Research Chair in the Department of Geography and Environmental Management at the University of Waterloo in Canada.

“Across all the US regional markets, average ski seasons have increased from 1980s to the 2010s, despite warmer temperatures and more variable snowpacks,” Scott told this publication.

“That growth was possible because of hundreds of millions of investments in snowmaking, which was able to offset changes in climate.

“The situation has now changed. Average (ski) seasons in the first half of 2020s are declining in four of the five (US) regional markets. The massive investment in snowmaking is no longer able to keep up with the record warm winters that have occurred over the past five-seven years,” he added.

Scott, however, believes snowmaking will continue to play a major role in sustaining the winter sports ecosystem.

“Snowmaking has been a primary adaptation to cope with climate variability for 40 years and interviews with ski industry leaders indicate it will continue to be a core adaptation to future climate change,” he said.

“Automation and improved snowmaking systems as well as equipping snow groomers with depth finding sensors are also part of improved snow production and management going forward,” Scott further explained.

The decline in natural snowfall, snowpack, and rise in temperature, which limits the artificial snowmaking abilities and increase its costs are the major detrimental factors, putting winter sports at risk.

Albeit extremely costly, snowmaking is an aspect Tramboo hopes to introduce in Gulmarg and India in a bid to help the country’s winter athletes.

Even in normal circumstances when there is ample amount of snow, Indian winter athletes get only about two to two-and-half months to practice, better their craft and get picked for the national team.

The inconsistent weather patterns in recent years have only made it worse.

While the top most athletes or those with good financial backing or sponsors move to better conditions in Europe and Asia to train, the rest are left in the lurch.

'Fixing environmental concerns'

Though no official proposals have been made yet, Tramboo revealed he has had discussions with Shiva Kesavan – a six-time Winter Olympian and the Indian Olympic Association’s (IOA) Athletes Commission member – about the possibly of getting artificial snow machines in the country.

“Had we had those (snow machines), we would not have had to postpone the event,” said Tramboo.

“We have to think about alternatives if we need to find good athletes,” he added.

With rapid climate change, the future of winter sports is beyond our control. Efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is the only cure to sustain and preserve these alpine sports enjoyed by millions across the world.

“The future of winter sports in a warmer world is beyond the control of winter sports or winter tourism industry,” said Dr. Scott.

“The geography of winter sport and viable ski resorts is very different under low and high emission futures, which will be determined by global efforts to reduce GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions,” he added.

For Tramboo, its not just about sports. It is also about fixing the environmental concerns to help mitigate an imminent disaster.

“In general, snow is extremely important for the Himalayan belt,” said Tramboo. “People attached with these (scientists, locals alike) are worried about the problems it may cause for summer.”

Also, snow is the primary source of water in the Himalayan region. The lack of adequate snowfall in recent years has put livelihood of the local populace at risk.

“We need to fix the environmental concerns,” Tramboo quipped. “We need to think, the general people need to think.”

As for the 2025 Khelo India Youth Games, Tramboo hopes to host it in the first week of March.

There is a spell of snow expected towards the end of February and Tramboo is banking on it.

The weather predictions for the region have been inaccurate this season but athletes and the locals hope, it reads correct this time.