Lucas Berard-Chenu, from INRAE has recently published the publication Is the Downsizing of Ski Areas in the French Alps Part of a Degrowth Strategy? as co aouthor
The article explores whether the reduction of ski infrastructure in the French Alps can be considered part of a “degrowth” strategy or simply a response to economic and environmental pressures. Focusing on 18 ski resorts that have downsized their lift networks, the study highlights how climate change, unreliable snowfall, rising costs, and declining profitability are forcing many mountain destinations to rethink traditional ski tourism.
Rather than completely shutting down, several resorts have chosen to reduce the size of their ski areas by closing less profitable or low-altitude sectors. While most cases reflect adaptation to crisis rather than a deliberate ecological transition, some resorts are beginning to experiment with more sustainable tourism models based on lower environmental impact and local development.
The article concludes that downsizing alone does not automatically represent degrowth. However, it may serve as an important first step toward new forms of mountain tourism that are better aligned with environmental limits and long-term regional resilience.