Protecting Our Glaciers: Effective Climate Action for the International Year of Glaciers 2025 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 changes and take meaningful action. Every choice we make — from where we travel to the gear we buy and the causes we support — shapes the future of these fragile alpine environments. Just as we move with care and respect in the mountains, we must adopt the same thoughtful approach to reducing 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. Only if countries stick to their current pledges, can this 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.  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:
 What people think is most effective vs what is actually effective. Source: Hannah Ritchie, Not the end of the world, 2024 Even if someone were to live a completely carbon-neutral lifestyle, the impact would be marginal compared to the power of systemic change. True effectiveness comes from influencing policies and driving innovations that can reduce emissions on a global scale. The Power of Charitable Donations One of the most powerful yet often overlooked ways to fight climate change is donating to highly effective climate charities. To illustrate this, a report from climate researchers at Founders Pledge compares the impact of individual lifestyle changes to donating to the most effective climate charities. Their findings reveal that donations can be up to 100 times more effective in reducing emissions per year than any single lifestyle change. This makes sense—while personal actions only reduce your own carbon footprint, the most effective charities drive systemic change by lobbying for policies or developing breakthrough technologies that transform entire industries and impact millions of people.  Relative impact of lifestyle choices compared to donating to effective climate charities (Source: Founders Pledge Climate and Lifestyle Report) However, not all charities are created equal and some are much more effective than others. In order to find the most impactful donation opportunities - it’s recommended to follow the advice of independent charity evaluators. For climate change, Giving Green is the gold standard charity evaluator. They spend thousands of hours each year rigorously evaluating which charities make the biggest difference and then curating a list of the most effective ones to support. Their 2025 recommendations include organisations such as Clean Air Task Force and the Good Food Institute, which focus on policy and technological innovations to reduce emissions across entire industries.
Act for our glaciers If you want to take action for our glaciers, here are the most effective steps you can take:
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] [11] EU agrees to regulation that will dramatically cut EU and global methane pollution (Clean Air Task Force) [Accessed 17/03/2025] [12]The Future of Geothermal Energy - Executive summary - Technology breakthroughs are unlocking huge potential for geothermal energy [Accessed 17/03/2025] [13] The Untapped Climate Opportunity in Alternative Proteins (Boston Consulting Group, MA) [Accessed 11/07/2024]
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