As Switzerland’s glaciers shrink, a way of life may melt away

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🗞️ Driving the news: Switzerland's traditional alpine farming, a practice integral to the country's culture and economy, faces severe challenges due to climate change
• Rising temperatures, retreating glaciers, and changing weather patterns are forcing Swiss farmers to adapt, with some extending their alpine seasons while others face earlier descents due to droughts

🔭 The context: Alpine farming, including the "summering" of livestock in the mountains, is a centuries-old practice vital to Swiss identity
• The UNESCO-listed tradition supports local economies and sustains biodiversity, but is now threatened by environmental changes, particularly glacier retreat and altered snow patterns

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The changes in Swiss alpine farming reflect broader environmental issues facing Europe, such as water scarcity and ecosystem disruption
• Switzerland, known as Europe's water tower due to its glaciers feeding major rivers, is experiencing significant glacier loss, impacting water availability across the continent

⏭️ What's next: Swiss farmers and the government are responding with adaptations like water infrastructure projects, solar-powered pumps, and adjustments in farming practices
• However, these measures face limitations in mitigating the long-term impacts of climate change on traditional alpine farming

💬 One quote: "It would be all bushes and forest if we weren't here" (Andrea Herger, Swiss farmer)

📈 One stat: In the past two years, Swiss glaciers have lost 10% of their water volume, an amount equal to the total loss from 1960 to 1990

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