Global warming

The world is becoming warmer. Climate change affects the livelihoods and way of life of mountain people, for us climbers and mountaineers it affect our sport. Glaciers shrinks, climbing routes disappear and the season for ski touring becomes shorter. Since people living in the mountains, climbers and mountaineers are eyewitnesses to shrinking glaciers and snowfields, we can contribute to public understanding of climate change issues by telling the world of the changes we see in nature.

In 2007, the Nobel Peace Price was awarded to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), together with Al Gore, for raising awareness and increase public understanding of climate change. The Norwegian Nobel Committee said that “Extensive climate changes may alter and threaten the living conditions of much of mankind (…) Such changes will place particularly heavy burdens on the world’s most vulnerable countries. There may be increased danger of violent conflicts and wars, within and between states.” Scientists have concluded that it overwhelmingly probable that humans are responsible for these changes.

In connection with the General Assembly in Banff 2006, the Alpine Club of Canada organised a workshop on “The future of our mountains”. You can read about the impact of global warming on Canadian mountains in this report. At the General Assembly the UIAA also adopted a Resolution on climate change.

Bursting glacial lakes in Nepal

For the people of Nepal, the threats of global warming are not something they fear for the future, but something they face right now. “Glaciers are rivers frozen in time and time is running out for Nepal's glaciers”, says Ang Tshering Sherpa, the president of the Nepal Mountaineering Association and the Union of Asian Alpine Associations. He is trying to turn the world’s attention to his country’s glacial lakes, which are threatening to burst and destroy everything on its way, including the trail to Mount Everest.
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From the press

Here we have gathered some articles about mountaineering and global warming which we think you will find interesting.

• Slow climate change- Mountain Forum Himalayas takes a call HimVani: Voice of Himachal, India January 16, 2008
• Global Warming thaws Himalayan glaciers at frightening speed Japan Focus/ International Herald Tribune January 10, 2008.
• Ladakh’s vanishing rivers of ice Kashmirwatch.com January 10, 2008
• “Is climate change changing climbing”? Nepali Times October 7, 2005
• “Climbers Bring Climate Change From Mountaintop to Laptops”, Environmental News service July 31, 2007
• Climate change prompts first Mt. Everest climber to act, USA today October 10, 2005
• High-Climbing Ice Expert Gets to Core of Climate Change, National Geographic July 27, 2004
• Everest climbers call for urgent action on global warming, Friends of the Earth
• Climate, water, mountains , Energy bulletin, April 8th 2007

Read the articles

Facing change

11th December is the UN’s International Mountain Day. Since 2003 this date, which was declared after the International Year of Mountains in 2002, has been used to focus on issues such as biodiversity, peace and tourism. This year’s theme is “Facing Change: Climate Change in Mountain Areas”.
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Global Outlook for Ice and Snow  

Global Outlook for Ice and Snow  (2007) is a report from UNEP, the United Nations Environment Programme. It describes how the melting of ice and snow is closely linked to global warming; how big the changes have been so far; and the global impact of the changes – now and in the future. The report was prepared for World Environment Day 2007 to provide an up-to-date assessment on the issue.

For people living in mountain regions, ice and snow are part of daily winter life, a resource for recreation and income generation, and an important part of their national and regional identities. For mountaineers melting ice and snow affects activities such as ice climbing, ski mountaineering and expeditions. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Himalayan glaciers could disappear completely within the lifetimes of those who are young today. If that happens it would affect the water supplies of hundreds of millions of people. Download full report or read highlights here