Austria’s Alps hit by climate change
Austria, with its sensitive Alpine regions, has been particularly hard hit by climate change, a major survey says. The Austrian Climate Change Assessment Report 2014 says average temperatures in Austria have risen by almost 2C since 1880. This is compared with a global rise of 0.85C in the same period. The document says that the changes in temperature are mainly man-made and caused by "emissions of greenhouse gases". The report was put together by more than 200 scientists and presented in Vienna by Austrian Environment Minister Andrae Rupprechter. One of the scientists behind the document, Helga Kromp-Kolb from the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences in Vienna, told Austria's ORF TV that the above-average increases in temperature were due to Austria's landlocked position and its sensitive Alpine regions. "We are a continental area, which gives us a higher rise in temperature and... we are in a mountain region where the decrease in snow cover intensifies the warming process", she said. The report says that in the last 130 years, sunshine in the Alps has increased by approximately 20%. It says that snow cover, particularly at mid-altitude elevations, has declined, and that there has been a clear reduction in the surface of Austria's glaciers. Rises in temperature, it says, have accelerated since 1980. "Cold nights have become rarer, but hot days have become more common." The report warns that "without increased efforts to adapt to climate change, Austria's vulnerability will increase", particularly in areas such as agriculture, forestry and winter tourism. "Compared with destinations where natural snow is plentiful, many Austrian ski areas are threatened by the increasing costs of snowmaking." It warns that if nothing is done, temperatures could rise by 3.5% by 2100. Non-governmental organisations in Austria have called for rapid action to be taken. The "report shows that Austria is heavily affected by climate change and the damage will continue to increase if decisive action is not taken," environmental organisations Global 2000, Greenpeace and WWF said in a joint press release. A brief history of climate change Brazil builds giant Amazon tower CO2 rises at fastest rate since 1984 Greenhouse gas fear over meat eating Commission on the Economy and Climate Morocco rescuers dig with bare hands as foreign aid sent US denies Cold War with China in historic Vietnam visit How Russia and West agreed on Ukraine G20 language How Russia and West agreed on Ukraine G20 language US denies Cold War with China in historic Vietnam visit 'Everyone in this village is either dead or missing' A Serbian scientist's long quest to name Srebrenica's dead How chronic pain feels for me. Video How chronic pain feels for me Guyana scrambles to make the most of oil wealth The spongy creatures cleaning Zanzibar's oceans. Video The spongy creatures cleaning Zanzibar's oceans Inside a 'hijacked' South African building. Video Inside a 'hijacked' South African building The rise and fall of a parenting influencer Florida's first hurricane-proof town The greatest spy novel ever written? Why is everyone crazy about Aperol? 2023 BBC.