Climate change alters outdoor activity opportunities and safety risks globally

A systematic review examined 47 studies from around the world to understand how climate change affects outdoor activities. The research looked at factors like rising temperatures, extreme weather events, changes in precipitation, snow conditions, and environmental degradation. These factors create an asymmetric bidirectional relationship with outdoor activity opportunities. The review also explored how outdoor activities themselves impact the climate through emissions and ecological pressures. These pressures mainly come from transportation, tourism consumption, facility operation, artificial snowmaking, energy use, and resource consumption. Evidence for this feedback remains comparatively limited but suggests a non-negligible role. The studies involved participants in various outdoor activities globally. No specific safety concerns or adverse events were reported in this review of non-clinical environmental studies. Readers should understand that future research needs to distinguish between climate suitability and actual participation. Strengthening integrated assessments of carbon emissions, adaptation, risk governance, and low-carbon transition pathways is recommended for the future.