Alpine Borders Adjusted as Glaciers Melt
1st October 2024
Last modified on October 5th, 2024
Switzerland, France and Italy are tweaking parts of their mountain borders. The ridge lines of glaciers have traditional marked some borders, but climate change is altering the terrain.
One area affected by the border changes is above the ski resorts of Zermatt in Switzerland and the Italian ski resort of Cervinia.
The two countries agreed to adapt the frontier around the landmarks of Testa Grigia, Plateau Rosa, Rifugio Carrel and Gobba di Rollin.
Switzerland approved the border adjustment treaty last week, but Italy still has to officially sign off on the changes but the process is in motion.
“Significant sections of the border are defined by the watershed or the ridge lines of glaciers, or perpetual snow,” said the Swiss government as it agreed to move the border in places.
In the canton of Geneva, the border with France has to be adjusted slightly due to the re-naturation of bodies of water.
Around 50kms of the 103kms border between the canton of Geneva and France run through bodies of water.
A joint French-Swiss commission drew up three border adjustment agreements in the three Geneva regions.
International law provides for the possibility of an exchange of equivalent areas in the event of border changes.
An annual report is issued each year by the Swiss Glacier Monitoring Network, Glamos, which attributed the record losses to consecutive very warm summers, and low snowfall in the winter of 2022.
Mont Fort glacier, Verbier. Image © PlanetSKI
Researchers say that if these weather patterns continue, the thaw will only accelerate.
It is thought that clarifying the borders will help both countries determine which is responsible for the upkeep of specific natural areas.
The exact border changes will be implemented and the agreement published once signed.
Last year, Glamos warned that some Swiss glaciers are shrinking so fast that it is unlikely they can be saved, even if global temperatures are kept within the Paris climate agreement’s 1.5C target rise.
