Climate Change Threatens Swiss Glaciers
3rd November 2021
Last modified on November 6th, 2021
In landlocked Switzerland temperatures are rising faster than in regions that benefit from the ocean’s cooling effect.The glaciers are under threat as world leaders meet for COP26 in Glasgow.
Glaciers in Switzerland are shrinking due to the impact of climate change.
Over 500 Swiss glaciers have disappeared and there are predictions that 90% of the glaciers left will have melted by the end of the 21st century if measures are not taken.
Since 1850 the glaciers have lost 60% of their volume.
There are currently 1,500 glaciers remaining in Switzerland.
Reuters has recently posted this video:
The web site Swiss Info has been highlighting the problem as world leaders come together in Glasgow.
The first video of its two-part series shows how climate change is affecting the Swiss landscape, the economy and its people.
Global average temperatures are 0.85 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels – Switzerland has seen an increase of two degrees over the same period.
The country risks losing an important water reservoir as the glaciers continue to melt, affecting farming, hydropower production and transport on Europe’s main waterways.
High levels of convenience and consumption of imported goods raise the national carbon footprint.
At the United Nations climate change conference (COP26), Switzerland will push for all countries to commit to limit global warming to 1.5°Celsius.
But after voters rejected a new CO2 law, can Switzerland credibly ask others to do more?
Read more on Swiss Info.
Related PlanetSKI Articles
- Climate change could lead to tens of thousands of job losses in winter tourism
- Relics found as Swiss glacier melt can be logged on an App
- Covering glaciers: an expensive way of preventing the ice melting
- Glacier skiing: go while you still can
- Climate report claims many past Olympic hosts could not hold event in 30 years
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