Controversy Surrounds Italian Ski Resort's Artificial Snow Solution

Plans to reopen a ski resort in northern Italy with artificial snow have sparked controversy. The Monte San Primo ski area, which closed a decade ago due to rising temperatures and thinning snowfall, is set to undergo a 5 million euro ($5.4 million) renovation project. While some locals support the plan as a boost to tourism, environmental and sporting organizations have raised concerns about ecological fragility, energy consumption, and potential financial burdens. The project's backers have been unresponsive to calls for dialogue, prompting protests from the consortium "Let's Save Monte Primo." The ski area's lack of natural snow and the increasing impacts of the climate crisis further complicate the feasibility of the project.