Although there was a comparatively lower average glacier retreat of eleven meters in the 2020/21 measurement period (previous year: 15 meters), those responsible at a press conference on Friday painted a bleak picture. It means only a small fluctuation within the long-term trend. The ÖAV advocated a more active climate policy.
The fact that the glacier retreat was not as severe as in previous years is due to the weather conditions, said the heads of the ÖAV glacier measurement service, Gerhard Lieb and Andreas Kellerer-Pirklbauer. In terms of temperatures, midsummer was almost normal. “As a winter month, May still brought a lot of snow to the glaciers. There were several sudden falls at 3,000 meters above sea level,” reported Lieb. “The snow cover has protected the glaciers for a relatively long time,” he said.
Schlatenkees lost about 55 meters
However, the measured values show in black and white that the “Eternal Ice” had recently been severely damaged. The strongest declines were registered in the Venice group with an average minus of 22.7 meters, followed by the glaciers in the Zillertal with minus 15.5 meters. The Schlatenkees in the Venice Group recorded a decrease in ice masses of 54.5 meters, the Pasterze (Glockner Group) retreated by 42.7 meters. In Salzburg, the Untersulzbachkees was hardest hit at 35.5 meters, in Upper Austria it was the Great Gosaugletscher at minus 11.5 meters. In Vorarlberg, volunteers measured a drop of 20.2 meters.
The image of the past five years continues, said Kellerer-Pirklbauer in the online press conference. “We’re a long way from advances,” he said. The last advances were measured in the 1930s, he explained the situation. “It is very clear that the negative trend continues. The glaciers are not doing well,” said the expert.
“acts currently somewhat half-heartedly”
Therefore, the Alpine Club appealed to people and politicians to change their own behavior and to take measures against climate change. “Glaciers are the visible sign of climate change,” argued ÖAV Vice President Ingrid Hayek. You can now see in the course of the Ukraine crisis: “If the hat is on fire, then something will happen. On the other hand, I still find the actions a bit half-hearted at the moment”. You have the impression that you “do not want to mess with anyone”.
“Only unused energy is good energy”
She was convinced that the “majority of the population is ready to change something”. For Hayek, the motto counts: “Only unused energy is good energy.” The problem is that people want to “keep their lifestyle the same” and just want to “switch from diesel cars to electric cars”. “Each individual can restrict themselves,” she said as a solution. But she conceded that giving up would require more effort “if everyone continues to live in the lap of luxury”. Therefore, she called for measures in climate policy: “You could offer the climate ticket cheaper or for free,” she said.
Source: Nachrichten
