The Italian environmental organization Legambiente has issued a sharp critique of Austria’s ski industry. The group awarded Austria a “black flag” due to “relentless efforts to expand ski resorts in Tyrol by exploiting the last remaining glacier areas in the Eastern Alps.” In response, Tourism State Secretary Elisabeth Zehetner (ÖVP) defended the country’s practices, stating, “Austria’s winter tourism has nothing to hide.”

“We denounce environmentally harmful practices in the mountains, including those in neighboring Austria,” said Legambiente Director General Giorgio Zampetti in a press release on Saturday. Each year, the organization gives green flags to Alpine regions that implement sustainability and nature conservation projects. Black flags go to communities that fall short in environmental protection.

State Secretary: Austrian Winter Tourism Is a Model

Zehetner dismissed the glacier exploitation accusation as unfounded and ignoring major progress made in recent decades. “Sustainability doesn’t mean sacrifice, but conscious choice. That’s exactly what Austrian winter tourism stands for,” she said. “Skiing in Tyrol today means choosing an offering that leads the world in environmental standards.”

She pointed out that 90 percent of the electricity used for snowmaking comes from renewable sources—an international benchmark. “Technical snowmaking uses only 0.07 percent of Austria’s annual water resources. Calling that exploitation ignores the facts,” Zehetner said. “Criticism is important—but please, let it be fact-based. Austria shows that winter sports and nature conservation can go hand in hand.”

Green and Black Flags Across the Italian Alps

In 2025, Legambiente awarded 19 green flags to regions across the Italian Alps. Piedmont and Friuli Venezia Giulia received the most, with four each. Lombardy and Veneto followed with three green flags apiece, Trentino with two, and South Tyrol, Aosta Valley, and Liguria with one each.

Conversely, nine black flags were awarded to Alpine communities deemed to be handling their mountain environments unsustainably. Friuli Venezia Giulia received three black flags, while Piedmont, Aosta Valley, Trentino, South Tyrol, and Veneto each received one.