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Based on economic cost models, climate change will affect the ski industry and skiing tourism negatively within the 21st century ( 11). This impact is accompanied with various severe consequences for people, such as water resource management, risk assessments, economic changes or tourism ( 9, 10). Large decreases of amount and duration of snow will be seen below 1,500–2,000 m altitude and snow amount will also decline at altitudes of 2,000 m above sea level within the next decades ( 8). Alpine environments are especially prone to climate change vulnerability ( 7), where glacier retreat, less snowfall at lower altitudes and massive changes in the snow line were reported ( 8, 9). However, exercising in natural environments is not only affected by urbanization but also by climate change. Natural environments can provide a venue and motivation to engage in exercise with additional mental health effects compared to exercising indoor ( 6). However, ongoing urbanization leads to a reduction and loss of natural spaces ( 6). Demographically, higher amounts of natural space in the living area seem to be associated with less physical and mental disorders ( 6). Greater mental health benefits were shown when exercising in natural outdoor environments, along with a higher probability to change exercise behavior compared to exercising indoors ( 3– 5). Conversely, participating in regular physical activity is important to improve and maintain physical and mental health ( 2). Physical inactivity is a major public health issue causing 9% of premature mortality which is equivalent to more than 5.3 million deaths in 2008 worldwide ( 1). Therefore, winter sport resorts may consider altered winter sport behaviors due to the consequences of climate change as well as the importance of providing an optimal framework to enhance affective valence of their guests in order to mitigate potential changes in winter sports behavior. Since affective valence seems to influence attitude and consequently intention to exercise, the role of non-cognitive variables with regard to climate change related exposure should be considered in future studies. Intention to engage in recreational winter sport activities was lower in participants exposed to the climate change affected winter sport scenario. The effect of group allocation on attitude was mediated by anticipated affective valence, indirect effect = 0.37, p < 0.001. Attitude toward winter sport was significantly positively associated with intention to engage in winter sport, beta = 0.66, p < 0.001. Lower intention to engage in winter sport activities and lower anticipated affective valence during exercising was found in CCA compared to CCU. Significant group differences were seen in all TPB variables, p < 0.038 −0.13 < r < −0.30, as well as in affective responses, p < 0.001 −0.24 < r < −0.85. Statistical analyses included Mann-Whitney- U Tests, linear regression, and mediation analyses. TPB variables and affective responses with regard to the displayed scenarios were assessed. Participants were randomly allocated to pictures of either CCA or CCU. An experimental cross-sectional web-based study design was used. Secondly, we aimed to analyze the role of anticipated affective responses during exercising based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). Thus, the following study primarily aimed at comparing the effect of being exposed to a climate change affected scenario (CCA) or to a climate change unaffected scenario (CCU) on the intention to engage in recreational winter sport activities. In the context of climate change in alpine environments, little is known on the determinants of winter sport behavior. Winter sport activities are particularly vulnerable to climate change, since global warming will decrease the duration and amount of snow. Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, AustriaĮxercise, including winter sport activities, shows positive effects on physical and mental health, with additional benefits when participating in natural environments.Anika Frühauf *, Martin Niedermeier and Martin Kopp