In a bold move just before the commencement of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina, Norwegian freeride skier Nikolai Schirmer submitted a petition to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) seeking to halt sponsorship from fossil fuel companies in winter sports. Schirmer handed the appeal, titled “Ski Fossil Free,” to Julie Duffus, the IOC’s head of sustainability, at a Milan hotel on Wednesday. The petition, signed by over 21,000 supporters including professional athletes, calls for the IOC and the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) to release a report before the next season evaluating the suitability of fossil fuel advertising in winter sporting events.
Schirmer, an accomplished filmmaker and two-time European Skier of the Year, expressed his concerns exclusively to TradeIQAI following the private meeting, which the IOC declined to permit media to witness. He stated, “It appears the Olympics are not yet prepared to fulfill their potential role as a positive agent of change. We hope this initiative encourages progress, but time will tell.”
The initiative was motivated by Schirmer’s firsthand experience with the visible effects of climate change on winter conditions essential for his sport. As a freeride skier engaged in exploring Europe’s challenging terrains, he noted, “Winter itself is vanishing before our eyes, putting the very foundation of my profession at risk.” Although freeride skiing is not currently an Olympic discipline, Schirmer views raising awareness around fossil fuel promotion as imperative given the sport’s vulnerability to climate degradation.
Extensive scientific evidence shows that burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and gas remains the foremost contributor to global climate change. The resulting accelerated warming has led to shorter, milder winters and diminished snowfall worldwide, directly threatening the viability of winter sports. Experts forecast a significant reduction in locations capable of reliably hosting Winter Olympic events in the near future.
Schirmer’s petition campaign began in January and swiftly surpassed its initial goal of 20,000 signatures within a month. The continued influx of endorsements underscores growing public and athlete concern. He compares this effort to a similar successful campaign nearly four decades ago that ended tobacco advertising in the Olympics. Also referencing United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres’s calls for a global ban on fossil fuel advertising, Schirmer finds the IOC’s current emphasis on renewable energy commitments insufficient.
In response, the IOC acknowledged to TradeIQAI that climate change constitutes a significant challenge confronting both sport and society broadly. However, the organization did not clarify whether it intends to review marketing from fossil fuel companies as requested by the petition. The IOC highlighted its diverse Olympic partners include investors in clean energy initiatives.
Meanwhile, FIS views campaigns like “Ski Fossil Free” positively. Its spokesperson, Bruno Sassi, emphasized that no fossil fuel companies currently sponsor the FIS World Cup or World Championships, indicating a separation between certain elite skiing competitions and fossil fuel industry involvement.
The petition has also received backing from “Protect Our Winters” (POW), an athlete-driven environmental advocacy group. POW’s CEO Erin Sprague noted that this represents the first concerted effort targeting fossil fuel advertising in connection with an Olympic Games. Team USA cross-country skier Gus Schumacher, who endorsed the petition, highlighted the importance of initiating dialogue on the matter, remarking, “Accepting funding from these corporations undermines genuine commitment to sustainable energy futures.” Paratriathlete Jack Berry expressed optimism that this campaign signals a move towards systemic change away from fossil fuel industry reliance.
Despite this push, certain fossil fuel companies remain involved in sponsoring the Games. For example, Italy’s oil and gas giant Eni serves as a “premium partner” of the 2026 Winter Olympics. Eni affirms its dedication to the energy transition by expanding lower-carbon businesses, reducing emissions, and targeting carbon neutrality by 2050. The company defends its Olympic partnership as a demonstration of commitment to Italy’s sustainable energy future via a fair transition. However, a January report by the New Weather Institute, in collaboration with Scientists for Global Responsibility and Champions for Earth, warned that promoting polluting companies at the Olympics likely expands their business operations and increases greenhouse gas emissions. This intensifies the issues affecting winter sports from melting snow and declining glacial ice. Eni disputes the emissions data relating to its involvement in the Games presented in that report.
Experts such as Stuart Parkinson, executive director at Scientists for Global Responsibility, argue that the IOC could avoid fossil fuel sponsorship by targeting partnerships in low-carbon sectors, thereby reducing its overall carbon footprint and aligning more closely with climate goals.