The UIAA – International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation – is saddened to hear about the loss of lives and severe injuries sustained following the collapse of a glacier on Marmolada, in the Italian Dolomites on 3 July.
While the cause of the accident is being investigated, the region recently experienced a heatwave and a significant rise in temperatures. The impact of climate change on mountain regions and on the safety of climbers, mountaineers and mountain communities is a core concern for the UIAA.
The UIAA recently created a dedicated Climate Change Taskforce to monitor the UIAA’s own carbon footprint and more widely to:
- Develop a resource of existing climate plans and environmental guidelines issued by UIAA member federations as foundation for the UIAA’s own use in development and for the information and use of UIAA members,
- Develop a plan of UIAA participation and advocacy strategy in the world climate change dialogue to define when, where, who and how the UIAA will effectively advocate its positions on climate change
The UIAA is committed to playing a leading role in ensuring both that the impact of climate change on mountain regions is widely documented and to help create the appropriate measures to ensure the safety of all concerned in the face of the increased risk of avalanches, icefalls and melting glaciers.
The UIAA will harness the expertise of UIAA Commissions (notably Medical, Mountaineering, Mountain Protection, Safety and Training) to monitor and re-evaluate certain climbing and mountaineering practices and routes. Findings will be shared with member associations and the wider climbing and mountaineering community.
