For those of us who climb, ski, and guide in the Alps, the impacts of climate change are undeniable. Glaciers are retreating at an alarming rate, permafrost is thawing, and routes once considered stable are becoming unstable or disappearing altogether. These changes are not only reshaping the landscape we hold dear, but they are also making our profession more unpredictable and risky.
As mountaineers, we have a responsibility to understand these shifts and take decisive action. Our choices—whether in travel, gear, or broader advocacy—can contribute to a more sustainable future for these fragile alpine environments. Just as we move with care and responsibility in the mountains, we must adopt the same approach to mitigate our climate impact.
The United Nations has designated 2025 as the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation, a crucial initiative to raise awareness of glacier loss and drive global action to protect them. This year will unite scientists, policymakers, and the public to improve glacier monitoring, bolster climate adaptation, and advocate for sustainable policies. As glaciers continue to shrink, threatening water security and ecosystems, this year serves as a critical call to action.
In response, the British Mountain Guides (BMG) will publish climate-focused articles to educate and inspire the mountain community. We will provide professional development for guides on climate change, and commit 1% of member fees to high-impact climate charities working to address the root causes of glacier loss.
This article explores the most effective steps climbers and guides can take to combat climate change. By reducing our personal carbon footprints and supporting systemic solutions, we can help preserve the Alps for future generations. While the scale of climate change can seem overwhelming, we aim to provide actionable knowledge and steps that lead to tangible, positive change.
Understanding Climate Change: The Global and Alpine Perspective
The past decade (2014-2023) has been the warmest in recorded history [1]. The Paris Agreement set an ambitious target to keep global temperature increases “well below 2°C” while striving to limit them to 1.5°C. However, our current policies have us on track for around 2.7°C by 2100. And if countries achieved their current pledges, this could be reduced to 2.1°C [2].
Source: Climate action tracker
Alarmingly, the Alps are warming at nearly double the global average. Over the past two years alone, Swiss glaciers have lost 10% of their total ice volume, matching the melt rate of the entire three-decade period from 1960 to 1990 [3].
Rising Temperatures and Shrinking Snowfall
Since 1900, Alpine temperatures have increased by 2°C—an even steeper rise than the 1.4°C increase recorded in France as a whole [4]. As snow cover diminishes, exposed rock absorbs more heat, further accelerating the warming process.
Extreme weather events are also becoming more frequent. By the end of the century, deadly heat waves may become the norm, occurring every other year [4]. In addition, periods of drought are affecting ski resorts, where the average snow cover duration is now 36 days shorter than historical averages [5]. Snow depth has declined by 8.4% per decade since the 1970s [6].
The Disappearance of Alpine Glaciers
Alpine glaciers have already lost half their volume since 1900, with 20% disappearing since 1980 alone [7]. Even with aggressive climate action, most of these glaciers could be gone by 2100 [8].
Beyond their visual and cultural significance, glaciers serve as crucial water reservoirs, storing precipitation during the winter and gradually releasing it during the summer. Their disappearance threatens agriculture, particularly traditional dairy farming, which depends on reliable water sources. In recent years, water has had to be transported to Alpine pastures via helicopters and trucks, raising concerns about the long-term sustainability of this way of life.
One of the starkest visual indicators of glacier retreat is the Mer de Glace near Chamonix. In 1880, visitors could step directly onto the glacier from the Montenvers Hotel. Today, accessing it requires a descent of 550 steps, prompting the recent construction of a gondola in 2023 to facilitate access.
Image Left: Mer de Glace in 1909, Image Right: Mer de Glace in 2019
Individual Guide’s Perspective
“In the 22 years since I qualified as a guide the changes have been enormous, though this timeframe is barely a millisecond on a geological timescale. I remember continuous ice on the Argentiere Glacier extending almost down to the Cremerie ice climbing. I remember the tongue of the Mer de Glace extending so far down, that you barely needed to ascend off it, to the Mottets Buvette, if you’re skiing the Vallee Blance all the way to Chamonix. Not that you can do that very often any more. Rockfall was a relatively rare event and August was almost always an ideal month for Alpine climbing. A poor refreeze at night was only an occasional problem in the summer, up high. It’s really different now”… Jon Morgan, IFMGA Guide
Biodiversity on the Move
Alpine ecosystems are home to “glacial relic” species—plants and animals that adapted to cold conditions after the last Ice Age. As temperatures rise, these species are forced to migrate to higher elevations. However, since mountains taper at the top, available habitat diminishes.
Species like the ptarmigan could lose up to 60% of their habitat by 2050, with potential extinction by 2090 [9]. Similarly, many alpine flowers are struggling to shift their range upward fast enough to survive the rapidly changing climate.
The Collapse of Permafrost and Increased Rockfall
Permafrost—permanently frozen rock and soil—acts as the glue that holds Alpine mountains together. As temperatures rise, it is melting, leading to increased rockfall and making iconic climbing routes dangerously unstable.
Of the 100 classic Alpine climbs cataloged by Gaston Rébuffat in 1973, a third have become unclimbable in summer due to rockfall, while three have collapsed entirely [7]. In 2003, the famous 1938 route on the Eiger’s north face was barely recognizable due to ice melt, leaving climbers faced with loose rubble and exposed rock [9].
Mont Blanc’s normal route has been periodically closed due to rockfall risks, and the Matterhorn saw 90 climbers evacuated in 2003 following a massive rock collapse [8]. The trend is clear: as the Alps continue to warm, these hazards will only increase.
Taking Action: What Can We Do?
Given the scale of the crisis, individual actions can feel insignificant. However, targeted and effective steps can make a real impact.
The Most Effective Individual Climate Actions
Many people believe that recycling or reducing plastic use are the most impactful climate actions, but research suggests otherwise. The most effective personal choices include:
- Reducing air travel
- Transitioning to a plant-based diet
- Living car-free [10]
However, even if one were to live a completely carbon-neutral lifestyle, it would only make a marginal difference compared to systemic changes. True effectiveness lies in influencing broader policies and innovations that can cut emissions on a global scale.
What people think is most effective vs what is actually effective. Source: Hannah Ritchie, Not the end of the world, 2024
The Power of Charitable Donations
One of the most impactful ways to combat climate change is through donations to highly effective climate charities. Organizations like the Clean Air Task Force and the Good Food Institute work on policy and technological advancements that can cut emissions across entire industries.
- The Clean Air Task Force played a key role in advocating for the EU’s methane regulations, which could reduce global oil and gas emissions by 30% [11].
- The Good Food Institute supports research and policy changes to accelerate plant-based and lab-grown meat alternatives. A shift to alternative proteins could eliminate as much greenhouse gas as the entire aviation sector emits annually [12].
Relative impact of lifestyle choices compared to donating to effective climate charities (Source: Founders Pledge – Climate and lifestyle report).
Beyond Carbon Offsets: A Call for Systemic Change
While offsetting personal emissions through donations is an option, it is a limiting perspective. Instead of focusing solely on neutralizing one’s carbon footprint, individuals—especially those with financial means—should aim to fund climate initiatives at scale.
The Clean Air Task Force operates on an annual budget of less than $8 million yet has driven major policy changes with global impact. Supporting such organizations allows individuals to influence change far beyond their personal carbon footprint.
Conclusion
The Alps are experiencing climate change at an accelerated pace, with rising temperatures, glacial retreat, biodiversity loss, and increased rockfall making their mark on these beloved landscapes. While personal lifestyle changes can contribute to a more sustainable future, the most effective actions involve systemic interventions—advocating for policy change, supporting cutting-edge climate solutions, and funding organizations that drive large-scale impact.
For those who live, work, and find inspiration in the mountains, the urgency is clear. The question is not whether we should act, but how we can act in the most effective way possible.
By Jennifer Stretton, International Mountain Leader and co-founder of Mieux Donner
Sources
[1] 2023 was the warmest year in the modern temperature record (Climate.Gov) [Accessed 18/08/2024]
[2] As the climate crisis worsens, the warming outlook stagnates (Climate Action Tracker, 2024) [Accessed 11/03/2025]
[3] Two catastrophic years obliterate 10% of Swiss glacier volume (Swiss academy of sciences, September 2023) [Accessed 18/08/2024]
[4] Climate Change and its impact in the Alps (CREA Mont Blanc) [Accessed 18/08/2024]
[5] How climate change will hit snow levels across Europe’s ski resorts (Carbon Brief, August 2023) [Accessed 18/08/2024]
[6] Quel avenir pour les stations de ski dans un monde en réchauffement ? (National Geographic, February 2024) [Accessed 18/08/2024]
[6] How does the future of ski resorts look in the face of climate change? (National Geographic, February 2024) [Accessed 18/08/2024]
[7] Climate change taking big bite out of alpine glaciers (Deutche Welle) [Accessed 18/08/2024]
[8] More than 90% of glacier volume in the Alps could be lost by 2100 (European Geosciences Union)
[9] Un avenir incertain pour le lagopède alpin (CREA, Mont Blanc)
[10] Spot Crea Mont Blanc (CREA, Mont Blanc) [Accessed 18/08/2024]