"Switzerland can leverage its profile – including for glacier preservation"

The FDFA promotes Swiss polar and climate research by representing the country in various international political bodies related to the Arctic and Antarctic. Many Swiss institutions are internationally renowned for their scientific contributions on topics such as snow, ice (i.e. the cryosphere), the atmosphere, natural hazards, permafrost and alpine ecosystems. 

Climate change poses a threat to the cryosphere, which includes glaciers, ice sheets, permafrost, snow and other frozen parts of the earth's surface. 

In the following interview, Professor Daniel Farinotti, a glaciologist at ETH Zurich, discusses the issue of glacier melt and explains how international cooperation can help to combat it.

Professor Farinotti, how are glaciers in Switzerland and elsewhere faring?

Unfortunately the news here isn't good: glaciers are retreating rapidly both in Switzerland and around the world. The advance of global warming, now an undeniable reality, is at the root of the problem. Our observations show that glacier retreat isn't just continuing, it's actually accelerating. Since the year 2000, Switzerland's glaciers have lost almost 40% of their volume.

How does the melting of Swiss glaciers compare to that of the polar ice caps?

It's important to draw some distinctions here: although they share a common cause – climate change and the associated rise in temperatures – the scale, impact and timeframes differ significantly. We can, for example, assume that most of the ice in the Swiss Alps will have disappeared by the end of the 21st century. Thankfully that's not the case in the polar regions. Glaciers there will also lose a significant amount of their mass, but they certainly won't disappear by the year 2100 – in either the Arctic or the Antarctic.

Why is it important to maintain global ice levels?

Here too, the importance varies by region. In the Swiss Alps and other populated high-alpine regions, glaciers are a key water source for humans, animals and plants, as well as a significant energy source and an integral part of the traditional landscape. Ice masses in the polar regions are vital to eco- and climate systems due to their sheer size. The meltwater volumes in these regions – particularly from the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets – are so vast that they have a significant impact on rising sea levels and ocean currents. These changes aren't just felt locally or regionally, but around the world.

How can international cooperation – and thus Switzerland – help preserve glaciers? 

Although Switzerland is a small country, its contribution to glacier and polar research is significant. This isn't just due to its geographical proximity to ice and snow, but also its long-standing scientific tradition and the strength of its innovation. It also offers financial and political framework conditions that facilitate international cooperation. This gives it an international appeal that brings clear benefits in global research networks. Switzerland can leverage its profile in a targeted manner – including for climate protection and glacier preservation, which clearly also require considerable support in non-academic circles.

What do you think the future holds for glaciers?

Unfortunately I'm very pessimistic with regard to Swiss glaciers. It's more or less inevitable that their mass will continue to decrease significantly. There is some hope, though, as we can still influence climate change if we consistently reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. If global warming stabilises in line with the Paris Agreement at 1.5–2 degrees Celsius, at least a quarter of Switzerland's ice volume could be saved. 

At the international level, there's still time to set the right course with regard to greenhouse gas emissions and the factors that influence them. I very much hope that we finally heed the many wake-up calls from research and nature. Future generations will thank us.