The famous US magazine “Science” writes in its new issue that the Swiss glaciers have probably disappeared. Even if we use our CO2If emissions were stopped immediately, this could no longer be avoided. If the temperature rises by 1.5 degrees, almost half of the 215,000 glaciers studied worldwide will melt completely. Limiting to 1.5 degrees seems increasingly impossible. If global warming reaches two degrees, 70 percent of the world’s glaciers will melt.
Current calculations show that not all countries’ current climate targets are sufficient to limit the increase to 1.5 degrees. This means that glaciers have completely disappeared in the Alps, as in Canada, the USA and New Zealand. Only the high mountains of Asia, Alaska and parts of Russia, the Arctic and Antarctica would still have glaciers at the end of this century in this scenario.
Catastrophic consequences such as drought in the summer and reduced biodiversity
This is problematic for many reasons: On the one hand, melting glaciers cause sea levels to rise, which leads to increased and severe flooding in coastal areas. On the other hand, the disappearance of glaciers also has serious effects on Switzerland: In the dry summer months, glacial water feeds our rivers, fauna and flora, and our agriculture. If it disappears, Switzerland will face months of drought with disastrous consequences for our biodiversity and food security.
Matthias Huss, co-author of the study, from ETH Zurich to SRF, says the researchers conclude that stronger climate protection measures are needed: “Even if we can’t save glaciers as they currently appear, every tenth degree of warming saved is causing a smaller decline and therefore less. negative effect”.