NSAA Issues Climate Challenge 2021 Annual Report

The 2020-2021 ski season marks the tenth year of the Climate Challenge and the largest number of participants in the program’s history. The Climate Challenge team received submissions from 31 ski areas this season – more than four times the original seven participants in the program’s inaugural year. This ski season reflects the perseverance and innovation it took to stay open amidst the COVID-19 pandemic; many ski areas had record years, with visitors flocking to the outdoors to recreate safely. Even in the face of all the uncertainty brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, NSAA Climate Challengers have made it clear that their dedication to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is genuine. 

The 31 ski areas that participated in the Climate Challenge this year have reported an estimated 7,393 MTCO2e reduction in greenhouse gasses (GHGs) between this season and last season alone. Since the inception of the Climate Challenge 10 years ago, over 117,300,000 MTCO2e of GHGs have been reduced and over 220,000 MTCO2e of RECs have been purchased. 

This season saw seven new Climate Challengers (identified in bold text in the list at right), and NSAA has already enrolled three new ski areas for the 2021-2022 season.