“We will not see a white day”: How much longer will the Alps be white? |

Elizabeth Pogratz

Edited by: Irini Anastassopoulou

The Glasgow Climate Conference entered a decisive phase today. Expectations for bold decisions aimed at curbing climate change are rising. A look at the Alps and the ice that is constantly melting with the gradual rise of the temperature due to the greenhouse effect can convince even the most skeptical. 40 km from Lake Garda is the Andamello Massif, in the southern Alps, with the largest solid ice in Italy. Favorite destination for climbers, such as Franco Capitonio. 67 years old that comes often, but is not like old.

“As many as 2,600 Olympic-sized swimming pools”

“The ice was solid, hard, it was very nice. Even in summer the view was not as discouraging as today when the peaks of the peak are covered with gray mud. “He was always white, even in summer,” he says. Every year, according to experts, 14 million cubic meters of water evaporate, as many as 5,600 Olympic-sized swimming pools. The environmental organization Legambiente has been sounding the alarm for a long time. The area is alive with tourism, but rising temperatures have brought it upside down, says Guido Calvi, director of Andamello Park.

“The main problem is the safety of the people,” he says. “With the constant rise of the temperature and the melting of the lower layer of ice, a series of movements of the mountain mass is caused, which leads to severe landslides, which affect the valleys that stretch down, in the communities.” Cameras have been installed in these places to warn climbers in time.

The Alps are changing

Many inhabitants of the Balkanamica, the largest valley in the central Alps, live economically literally from the ice because agricultural production is more limited than in the plains. Thus, tourism is the most important source of livelihood, as confirmed by Mauro Testini, president of Associations of many communities. “For us, winter tourism is very important financially. “During the last 30 years we have made a lot of investments”, he emphasizes.

Despite the melting of the ice, the community of Ponte di Legno decided to create new ski slopes worth 25 million euros. At the same time, says Testini, alternative activities are offered for winter sports and mountain biking trails have been created. In the valleys, the effects of melting ice are already visible because water tanks are not fed. Until now, Antamello stored rainwater, which “released” gradually during the dry summer months. As the ice melts, so does the water. Nevertheless, there is still white snow at the top of Andamello, but for how much longer? Experts predict that the time will come when the Alps will have a completely different picture.