Climate Change Hits Mountain Regions Hard

Mountains worldwide—from the Andes to the Alps—are warming faster than surrounding lowlands, increasing 0.21 ºC per century more than valleys between 1980 and 2020.

A University of Portsmouth study highlights rapid changes in temperature, rainfall, and snowfall across the Rockies, Alps, Andes, and Tibetan Plateau. Millions depend on mountain water, and endemic species face increased threats.

Extreme events are becoming more frequent: Pakistan floods this year affected 7 million people and caused over 1,000 deaths. In Switzerland, glaciers have lost 25% of their mass in the last decade, including a 3% drop this year—the fourth largest in Europe.

💡 Mountains speak: their health reflects the state of our planet.