One of the biggest issues the world faces today is global warming that occurs owing to influence of human activities. Pure snow, forming a bright surface, reflects heat back into space and causes cooling, while being polluted with industrial waste and soot, dark snow absorbs sunlight and results in warming. This environmental challenge needs world community’s special attention and deserves a separate discussion. But there are few global events, which have respect to ecological problems and city management issues of winter period.
The conference will gather representatives from international organizations, global experts on snow and wintertime problems, and arctic city mayors and national authorities to discuss environmental problems and city management issues specifically relevant to arctic regions. It will raise issues of global geopolitical and environmental problems, and discuss the development and preservation of northern territories. The conference will be organized into three sessions each lasting one day:
- Snow and City Management
- Snow and Ecology
- Snow and Sport
The World Snow Forum will also include an extensive cultural program featuring ice and snow sculpture, dance, and various competitions.
The World Snow Forum is supported by the Russian Government as well as the Arctic Council, the International Arctic Science Committee, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, and the Winter Cities Institute.