Co-author of the “Mountain” section of the latest IPCC report, climatologist Carolina Adler explains to the Swiss daily The weather threats to ecosystems and people.
Retreat of glaciers, increase in floods and landslides, the already visible effects of global warming will continue to increase in all mountainous regions: this is what the section devoted to them in the latest report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
The Swiss daily The weather interviewed the main co-author of this part of the report, climatologist Carolina Adler, from the University of Bern, Switzerland. As she points out, the IPCC had already shown in a report published in 2019 comment “the glaciers and snow of high altitude areas [réagissaient]melting, to a warm climate”.
But this time, the report takes a closer look at the “impacts on ecosystems and communities that live in or depend on mountains”. A considerable challenge, she says:
Mountains represent about a quarter of the land surface of our planet. About 1.3 billion people depend on it for their resources.”
Less fresh water
The report provides “changes in the availability of fresh water that affect populations, agriculture and its irrigation, as well as hydroelectric production, including in Europe”. Switzerland could lose 3% of this green electricity by 2070, notes the daily.
Similarly, there is a decline in permafrost – ground frozen all year round. This could cause landslides that will affect residents and their infrastructure. As for biodiversity and tourism, particularly in the Alps, with the decline in snow cover, they are also threatened.
Assess risk areas
To best adapt to the situation, Carolina Adler recommends “a fine assessment of the places most at risk, in conjunction with local communities. This will make it possible to redefine the priorities of development and urban planning policies.”
She points out that “all the mountainous regions of the globe are concerned, many of which cover several countries”. This is why the scientist recommends“develop adaptation solutions on a regional, geographical scale, and not be limited to its own borders. In the Alps, this requires consultation with all the countries that share the massif.”
With the objectives of “protect populations exposed to the overflow of rivers and landslides” and to better manage the distribution of fresh water.
Source
Born in March 1998 from the merger of New Daily, from Geneva Journal and some Lausanne Gazette, this centre-right title, popular with executives, presents itself as the reference daily in French-speaking Switzerland and
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