Hakuba, a northern Japan Alps village in Nagano Prefecture at the foot of some of the country's most popular ski resorts, has a problem: Global warming could leave the area without the powder snow that has long been its lifeblood.
Famed for its abundant "J-pow," as the fluffy stuff is affectionately known by those who seek out waist-deep descents, the site of a number of the 1998 Olympics skiing events is experiencing a winter so warm that snow is thin on the ground.
In response, local high school students, parents and children, civic groups and ski resort workers are doing their part to raise awareness about climate change and its impact on the area, while promoting renewable energy with an eye on creating the sustainable ski resorts of the future.