Last 4 years, we go to a little town Alleghe in Alps valley, Dolomiti. Sadly, I have witnessed the changes of the climate and changes of the life year by year.
Finding snow over 3340 meters
It become very difficult finding snow on the Alps mountains where only a couple of years ago a lot of tourist used to go for ski. Last year we have gone at the end of the December, the month normally it should be full of snow. We drove up and down to find a trace of snow. The friends I was with used to come to the Alps for ski, and they were surprised seeing the shape of the mountains first time without clothing by snow. In the chain of the highest mountains of Europe, we had to go to over 3000 meters of peak point to touch some snow.
The Alps are an iconic symbol of Europe. One of the continent’s prime tourist destinations. Last year to not to loose tourist, it was spent a lot of money, time and energy to make some ski tracks from artificial snow.
Are we loosing the heart of Europe?
It is said that over the last century, global warming has caused all Alpine glaciers to recede. Temperatures in the Alps have risen by just under 2°C over the past 120 years, almost twice as much as the global average. And they are set to rise even more. Researchers are predicting a further 2°C increase over the next forty years. At first glance that might not appear particularly dramatic. But all it takes is a change of a few degrees to significantly affect the climate.
Last week, we went back to the Alps. The lady of the hotel was complaining of decrease of the tourist desperately. She also added that they want to change the type of tourism in the region. The matter is fatal.
What are the consequences?
In recent decades many Alpine glaciers have shrunk to half their earlier size, and by the end of the century all the glaciers of the Alps, with a few exceptions, may well have melted away. The consequences are rock falls, landslides and more mudslides.
Other danger of global warming in Alps is the water. Forty per cent of Europe’s fresh water originates in Alps, supplying tens of millions of Europeans in lowland areas. No wonder the Alps are sometimes called the ‘water towers of Europe’.
What can we do?
Climate change mitigation means cutting emissions of ‘greenhouse’ gases. However, even if emissions stop today, climate change will continue for a long time due to the historical build‑up of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
Even the major effect of the climate is industry and fossil fuel, we also can contribute the system individually doing these:
-Do less shopping and recycle almost everything.
-Encourage Others about recycling and energy conservation.
-Plant a Tree
-Save electricity and reduce global warming by turning off lights when you leave a room, and using only as much light as you need.
-Buy Energy-Efficient Products
-If you have to drive, use electric car. The best is walking and biking. You are saving the planet while you are doing exercise.
-Replace regular light bulbs with LED bulbs.
-Use Less Heat and Air Conditioning
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