The ski industry will be so quickly impacted by climate change that it's been termed "the canary in the coalmine". Not all hope is lost — but we must act fast. Australia's snow seasons are getting shorter, while the nations' snow cover is decreasing — and Australian ski resorts may be forced to shut if the current level of climate pollution continues, experts warn. Many alpine resorts in Europe have already closed due to declining snowfall and global warming. Most recently, a large French alpine resort announced in October it would not be reopening, joining a string of about 180 closures since the 1970s. In Australia, ski resorts may go the same way by the 2050s, when ski seasons will reduce by up to 55 days in a high-emissions scenario, according to modelling by Australian National University (ANU) researchers. As dire as that sounds, there's a reason the ski industry is often termed "the canary in the coalmine" of climate change: It faces one of the most imminent and dramatic threats, but will likely be only the first of many to fall victim to climate change. Also at risk are native flora and fauna in Australia's high country, regional communities, hydroelectricity plans, and First Nations communities, according t