Climate change impacts on motivations, perceptions and adaptation of recreational alpinists

• Main Authors: Salim, Emmanuel, Crepeau, Anne-Sophie, Mourey, Jacques, Sacher, Philipp
• Other Authors: Université de Lausanne = University of Lausanne (UNIL), Institut supérieur du tourisme, de l'hôtellerie et de l'alimentation (Toulouse) (ISTHIA), Université Toulouse - Jean Jaurès (UT2J), Université de Toulouse (UT)-Université de Toulouse (UT), Centre d'Etude et de Recherche Travail Organisation Pouvoir (CERTOP), Université de Toulouse (UT)-Université de Toulouse (UT)-Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (UT3), Université de Toulouse (UT)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Environnements, Dynamiques et Territoires de Montagne (EDYTEM), Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB Université de Savoie Université de Chambéry )-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), CCTR
• Format: Conference Object
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2024
• Subjects: [SHS.GEO]Humanities and Social Sciences/Geography; glacier*; permafrost
• Online Access: https://hal.science/hal-04560743

International audience Climate change is leading to profound changes in mountain areas, including glacier retreat, permafrost degradation and all the geomorphological processes associated with paraglacial dynamics. In the Alps, these dynamics are having a serious impact on outdoor recreation, with increasing difficulty in accessing mountain huts, but also on alpinism, now included in UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage. For example, depending on their geographical characteristics, alpinism routes are becoming more difficult, more dangerous and sometimes disappearing due to the effects of climate change. This has led to changes in the way mountain guides work, with adaptation strategies such as changing the place and time they work.Compared to a growing literature on the adaptation of mountain professionals to the impacts of climate change, little research has been done on outdoor recreationists and their perceptions and behaviours towards climate change. As they face a rapidly changing environment, it is important to understand how recreational alpinists perceive the changes and how they adapt their behaviours to them. This knowledge would be valuable in informing mountain authorities and adapting the safety information they provide to recreationists. Accordingly, the aim of this presentation is to discuss the first results of a study aimed at filling this knowledge gap.A mixed method was developed, including a quantitative survey measuring adaptation behaviours, perceptions of climate change, motivations and various socio-demographics of recreational alpinists. The survey was distributed through social media (mainly Facebook and specialised media such as Camp2Camp of Hikr). Based on the results (n=1071), a latent class analysis was conducted based on motivations, perceptions and adaptation behaviour. Interviews were conducted to explore in more detail how perceptions of change influence their behaviours.The results of the quantitative survey indicate the presence of four classes, namely the ...