Evaluation of global climate change in mountaineering and outdoor sports from the perspective of outdoor sports leaders

It has been observed that climate change, considered one of the greatest and most significant problems of our century, has become one of the most researched topics by scientists in terms of its impact on nature and human life. This research aims to evaluate the effects of climate change on mountaineering and outdoor sports from the perspective of outdoor sports leaders. The study group consists of 6 outdoor sports leaders, each with at least 15 years of experience. The phenomenology technique was used in the research. Interview questions prepared with expert opinion were posed to the participants, and the interviews were recorded. The transcribed interviews were analyzed using a coding method. Codes and sub-dimensions were created from the analysis, and themes were developed from these sub-dimensions. The emerging themes were divided into two groups: the impact of global climate change on outdoor sports and its reflections on outdoor sports leaders. The research results revealed that under the impact of climate change on outdoor sports, vital threats, seasonal inconsistencies, disasters, and event management emerged. The reflections on outdoor sports leaders include psychological effects, impacts on leadership behavior, physical and environmental impacts, organizational effects, and managerial solutions. Looking at the research overall, a concrete impact of climate change on outdoor sports was observed. Additionally, it was determined that outdoor sports play an effective role in sustainability and feasibility. Moreover, the effects of climate change on outdoor sports leaders are seen as an undeniable reality. In conclusion, it has been observed that global climate change directly and indirectly affects mountaineering and outdoor sports, impacting the sustainability of outdoor sports, demand rates, and risk levels in various ways. Keywords: Climate change, outdoor sports, mountaineering, outdoor sports leaders.