Climate change endangers mountain sports: Alps on alert!

Climate change endangers mountain sports: Alps on alert!

Alpen, Schweiz - climate change is a growing threat to the Alps, with an increase in the frequency of clamps, stone strokes and rock falls. According to Tobias Hipp, climate question expert at the German Alpine Club, these dangers are a direct consequence of man-made climate change. The warming of the Alps in particular leads to instability in the mountain regions, which increases the risk of such events. Bergstroke, which require large quantities of rock, differ from rock falls, which are often more relevant to mountain athletes because they occur more frequently.

Another example of the consequences is the tragic clash at the Piz Cengalo in 2017, in which several lives were lost. The increase in extreme weather events, such as heavy rain and heat waves, additionally reinforces the dangers. The risk of mountain gears increases significantly, particularly at high altitudes between 2,000 and 2,500 meters. Solutions for risk reduction require careful tour planning and the pursuit of current weather forecasts.

climate change and permafrost

The influence of climate change on the Alps is not only clear in the increase in mountain and rock falls, but also by melting the permafrost. This frozen soil is crucial for the stability of rock walls. If permafrostens up, rock and mountains could be triggered more easily. Historical events show how dramatically stirrups shape the landscapes; So a landslide on the Zugspitze caused massive changes in the area of ​​the Eibsee about 3,500 to 4,000 years ago.

The effects have also been observed recently: in May 2023, residents in Brienz had to be evacuated due to an impending rock fall. In June, a volume of 1 to 1.5 million cubic meters broke off rock, which underlines the urgency of the problem. Experts warn that the stability of the mountain landscapes is considerably endangered, not least due to the decline in the glaciers, which once played a stabilizing role.

episodes for mountain sports

The changes due to climate change affect not only security in the Alps, but also mountain sports themselves. The accessibility of peaks changes, and glacier columns and unstable moraine landscapes increase the dangers for climbers. The decline in the glaciers also has an impact on the water supply in the summer months, since about 60 to 80 percent of the water comes from glacier melt.

The German Alpine Association pursues the goal of becoming climate -neutral by 2030 and has therefore already started to take measures to supply the energy of its huts on a renewable basis. In addition to adapting food offers, visitors should also be actively informed about reducing their CO2 footprint.

The Alps remain an attractive goal for mountain sports, but the challenges that climate change brings with it are real and require urgent measures and rethinking visitors. The possibility of experiencing the mountains in its full splendor must be accompanied by conscious handling and responsible planning.

For further information on the effects of climate change on the Alpine environment and its risks, visit the pages of , Alpenverein and Alpine club press release .