Climate change threatens the Alps: glaciers are melting and sport is affected!

Climate change threatens the Alps: glaciers are melting and sport is affected!

On June 4, 2025, the expert forum “Klima.Schnee.Sport” published a new position paper that deals with the effects of climate change on winter and mountain sports. This expert group, consisting of 14 climate and sports research institutions from Germany, Austria and Switzerland, updated the document to address not only winter sports but also the challenges of mountain sports in summer. According to information from the German Sport University Cologne, headed by Univ.-Prof. Dr. Ralf Roth, the position paper is intended to provide a basis for an objective discussion and for long-term measures in the interests of nature, people and the economy.

In the last few decades, the temperature has risen by 2.5 °C in Germany, by 3.1 °C in Austria and by 2.9 °C in Switzerland. Experts expect that the annual mean temperature in the D-A-CH region will rise by at least another 2 °C by the end of the century. This long-term climate trend is characterized by increasing greenhouse gas emissions and natural climate variability. Warming is already having a significant impact on winter, with a decline in natural snow cover at lower and intermediate altitudes up to 1,500 meters.

Impact on the Alpine infrastructure

In addition to the winter changes, the alpine infrastructure is severely affected. The German Alpine Association (DAV) reported on the challenges posed by climate change during a press hike in the Ötztal. The huts and paths that suffer from water shortages in dry summers, damage from heavy rain and the instability of the subsoil are particularly affected. This leads to increased maintenance costs for paths that are at risk from increased mudslide activity and routes that become impassable as a result of glacier retreat.

An example is the suspension bridge between Langtalereckhütte and Ramolhaus, which poses additional dangers due to the thawing permafrost. The Langtalferner has retreated 500 meters since 1990, affecting the stability of the Alps. Glaciers are essential water reservoirs: in the summer months, a significant portion of the water in high-altitude rivers comes from glacier melt. A dramatic decline in glacier area is expected by the middle of the century.

Impact on mountain sports and climate accounting

The retreat of glaciers has far-reaching consequences for mountain sports. Crevasses pose an increasing danger, while the moraine landscapes require more caution. The increasing risk of rockfall as a result of melting permafrost and more frequent extreme weather conditions are making mountain sports activities more difficult to carry out. These changes not only impact athletes' practices, but also local flora and fauna, which also suffer from climate change.

The DAV is pursuing the goal of becoming climate neutral by 2030 and has already implemented numerous climate protection measures. This includes extensive emissions accounting, which is to be determined at the end of 2023. So far, 660 tons of CO2 have been saved per year, which corresponds to the annual consumption of 60 households. These measures are intended to ensure that future generations can continue to use the Alps.

Overall, the effects of climate change not only threaten the Alpine landscape, but the climate in the affected regions is also destabilized. Studies show that around 273 billion tons of ice have been lost every year since 2000 and that more than 275,000 glaciers worldwide are at risk. This is complemented by reports suggesting that the Andes and Himalayas in particular could lose half their mass by the end of the century.

The International Year of Glacier Conservation 2025 could provide new impetus for the necessary investments in glacier monitoring. However, it remains to be seen how consistently the measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate impacts will be implemented.

In summary, the challenges that climate change poses to winter and mountain sports illustrate the urgency of taking appropriate measures. The responsibility lies with everyone involved, who cannot ignore the influence of climate change on the fascinating alpine world.