Crystal clear seas and endless beaches in Fiji, a feeling of freedom at the top of Mont Blanc or a safari in Africa are all experiences we have on borrowed time, says the climate scientist.
– Record speed
Every year over 100 million tourists flock to the Alps to experience some of Europe’s most spectacular mountains.
– MOUNTAINS: Tourists stand at a viewpoint near the mountains Piz Palue and Piz Bernina in Switzerland. Photo: Arnd Wiegmann / Reuters / NTB
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But melting glaciers and thawing permafrost have made several of the alpine tours inaccessible this summer.
– There are currently warnings for around ten peaks, including iconic peaks such as the Matterhorn and Mont Blanc, says the general secretary of the Swiss Mountain Guides Association, Pierre Mathey, to AFP.
– Usually these are warnings that we might see in August. This year they took place at the end of June.
At the end of July, “Guide Alpine Italiane” wrote that their mountain guides had to cancel several of the planned routes to Mount Blanc.
– This decision is not easy, especially after two years of a pandemic, but we have to postpone the trips due to the significant increase in temperature, said the Facebook post.
Erik Kolstad, climate researcher at NORCE and the Bjerkesenteret, says that several popular mountain destinations face the same challenges.
– Glaciers all over the world are melting at record speed. We generally have a longer period in the summer season with very hot weather.
– BIG CHANGES: The glaciers in Patagonia are also melting at record speed. This has already led to major changes in the landscape. Photo: Thomas Senf / Mammut
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This also applies in Norway. According to Kolstad, it is expected that the Hardangerjøkulen, the sixth largest glacier on the Norwegian mainland, will disappear completely during this century.
– The warm weather not only affects snow conditions and glaciers, but we also see an increasing number of forest fires and the loss of coral reefs, says Kolstad.
– Risk of being washed away
At the same time as it gets warmer on land, the temperature in the sea also increases. Among other things, this has consequences for popular tropical holiday islands such as Fiji and the Maldives.
– MALDIVES: The archipelago is known for its unique hotel experiences, beaches and lush surroundings. Photo: Broker/Martin Moxter
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The Maldives known for its chalk white beaches and crystal clear waters. The country consists of around 1,190 small islands, and its highest point is only 2.4 meters above sea level.
During our century, sea levels are expected to rise by half to one meter. According to the UN, the entire country will disappear if sea level rise continues.
– Meltwater and warm water that expands results in higher water levels around the world. This means that there will be no beaches in the Maldives in the future if the sea continues to rise, says Kolstad.
– Erik Kolstad, climate researcher at NORCE and the Bjerkesenteret Photo: NORCE
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In addition to higher water levels, the sea is also becoming more acidic. This breaks down the reefs from which the islands of the Maldives are built.
– If the reefs disappear, the islands will erode faster and risk being washed into the sea, writes the UN.
Holiday destinations such as Key West, Venice and Mallorca will also feel the consequences of sea level rise.
According to the local newspaper Majorca Daily Bulletin, citing the United Nations, the biggest threat to the tourism industry in the future is the loss of beaches.
Concerned about safari favourite
The fact that the average temperature on earth is rising faster than scientists have ever observed also worries South Africa’s largest national park.
For those who want to experience wildlife up close, Krüger National Park is at the top of the list for safari tourists worldwide.
– POPULAR: Around 950,000 visit Kruger National Park each year to experience Africa’s wildlife up close. Photo: Siphiwe Sibeko
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Almost 150 mammal species, more than 500 bird species and 114 reptile species live here in their natural habitat. The park covers an area of 18,989 square kilometers.
On the park’s website, however, they have published a gloomy prediction regarding the future of wildlife.
– Up to two thirds of the animal species in the Krüger National Park could become extinct if the global temperature increases at the current rate, they write.
Climate researcher Kolstad is not surprised by the statement.
– It is quite obvious that this is going to be a problem. When it gets drier and warmer, it changes the living conditions for the animals.
– It is expected to be particularly bad in Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia, says Kolstad.
He says that this is the fifth rainy season in Africa where the amount of rainfall has decreased significantly.
– In some places there may be one real shed, in other places there will be nothing. This is very serious for both animals, people and infrastructure, he says.
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