 Walking off Ben Nevis in early January For those of us who live for horribly early starts, hail biting our faces and the sound of a well-placed ice tool, the Scottish Highlands are more than just a playground. They are a barometer for the health of our planet. This winter has been a nice reminder of winters of the past with good snow cover and ice climbing. But the trend of the last 20 years is clear, that barometer has been sending some unsettling signals. If you’ve been following our conditions reports over the years, or have been climbing in winter for a long time you will have seen it first hand. The "classic" Scottish winter with months of reliable snow cover and classic ice climbing is becoming increasingly elusive.  Aonach Eagach pinnacles in January The Reality on the Hill This winter has been very welcome. It has restored some faith in Scottish winter climbing. Let’s not get too carried away though; it has been much snowier than the last four winters but nothing like the snow cover we had 20 or even 40 years ago. Scottish winters are notoriously fickle and variable, so seeing trends is difficult, and our memories are short. But there is a clear trend towards shorter winters, deeper thaws, less ice climbing and snow cover. Climate change is no longer a distant projection; it is the current reality of mountaineering. The data (e.g. from summer snow patches) confirms what guides and climbers feel; mean temperatures are rising, and the freezing level is hovering higher on the hills more often than in the past. When the media speaks of "climate alarmism," it often feels like they are finally catching up to what the mountains have been telling us for years. However, while it is vital to acknowledge the gravity of the situation, focusing solely on the "alarm" can lead to a sense of climate doom, the feeling that it’s too late to act. At Abacus Mountain Guides, we believe the opposite is true. The changing snow line should be a call to action, not a reason for despair. We should acknowledge what is happening and act accordingly.  Descending next to Dinnertime Buttress in February Learning from Success: The Uruguay Model and Beyond When discussing climate change, we often get bogged down in what can't be done. But if we look globally, there are stunning examples of what is possible with political will and clear-headed strategy. Take Uruguay, for instance. In just over a decade, Uruguay shifted its electricity grid from being heavily dependent on fossil fuels to generating 95-98% of its electricity from renewable sources (primarily wind, solar, and biomass). They didn't do this through "alarmism," but through a pragmatic, long-term national agreement that prioritised energy sovereignty and lowered costs. We are seeing similar structural triumphs closer to home, too. The UK has become a global leader in off-shore wind energy; today, over 40,000 people are employed in the UK’s offshore wind industry, and 55,000 in wind energy combined, driving a sector that now generates a significant and growing proportion of our total power demand. 110,000 will work in this industry by 2030. Uruguay’s success and the UK's wind revolution prove that a rapid transition isn't just a pipedream, it’s a blueprint.  The Curtain in February The Unsung Success: Reducing Emissions Amidst the headlines of melting glaciers, we rarely hear about the genuine progress being made. In many developed nations, including the UK, emissions per capita have dropped significantly over the last two decades. Through a combination of cleaner energy grids, technological efficiency, and public awareness, we have proven that decoupling economic life from high-carbon output is possible. We are moving in the right direction, but we need to accelerate. The goal isn’t to mourn the winters of the past, but to protect the winters of the future.  Ben Nevis summit in January How We Can Make a Difference As climbers and outdoor enthusiasts, we have a unique platform and a deep motivation to act. Effective climate action isn't about "doing less"; it’s about influencing the systems that govern our world.
 Tower Ridge in early April A Future Worth Climbing For The snow cover has been better this year, and the ice climbing has been good. The spirit of Scottish winter climbing remains, whatever kind of winter we get. By acknowledging the trend of our changing climate without falling into hopelessness, we can find the resolve to act. If you want to do something positive, you could start by joining the World Climate Relay!  Comb Gully Buttress in March
0 Comments
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
