From the Alps to the Andes: How climate change in mountain regions is putting billions at risk

⭐ Join our community and access the best we offer!

illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on Euronews or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: A new Nature study shows mountain regions — including the Alps, Andes, Rockies and the Tibetan Plateau — are warming markedly faster than lowlands
• Researchers warn that shifting snow, rainfall and temperature patterns are accelerating risks for communities and ecosystems

🔭 The context: From 1980 to 2020, mountains warmed 0.21°C per decade faster than surrounding areas, with a clear shift from snow to rain
• More than one billion people depend on mountain snow and glaciers for water, including those relying on Himalayan meltwater
• As glaciers retreat and precipitation becomes less predictable, hazards such as flash floods and landslides intensify

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Mountain warming directly affects global water security, biodiversity and climate stability
• Rapid ice loss reduces natural water storage, heightens flood risk and threatens alpine species moving uphill with limited habitat left
• These ecosystems also support major carbon stores, meaning their decline weakens global resilience

⏭️ What’s next: Scientists call for urgent emissions reductions and improved high-altitude monitoring, warning current models may underestimate changes at elevation

💬 One quote: “Mountains are experiencing similarly rapid changes as the Arctic.” — Dr. Nick Pepin

📈 One stat: Swiss glaciers have lost 25% of their ice in the past decade

Click for more news covering the latest on climate change