Switzerland and Italy redraw border due to melting glaciers

Switzerland and Italy have recently made changes to their border in the Alps due to the effects of climate change, specifically the melting of glaciers. This change is significant as it affects the area around the Matterhorn, one of the tallest and most iconic mountains in Europe, which is also a popular destination for skiing. The glaciers that have traditionally defined the border between the two countries are shrinking, leading to a need for both nations to reassess and redefine their boundaries. Switzerland officially approved the new border agreement on Friday, while Italy is still in the process of finalizing its approval. This decision follows a draft agreement that was created by a joint commission from both countries back in May 2023. According to reports, Switzerland's glaciers experienced a loss of 4% of their volume in 2023, marking the second-largest loss on record after a staggering 6% loss in 2022. The Swiss Glacier Monitoring Network, known as Glamos, has attributed these significant losses to a series of extremely warm summers and a lack of snowfall during the winter months. Researchers warn that if these weather patterns continue, the rate of glacier melting will only increase. On Friday, Swiss officials stated that the newly defined borders were established with consideration for the economic interests of both countries. This clarification of borders is expected to help both nations determine who is responsible for maintaining specific natural areas. The changes will take place in regions such as Plateau Rosa, Carrel refuge, and Gobba di Rollin, all of which are located near the Matterhorn and are close to popular ski resorts like Zermatt. The exact details of the border changes will be implemented and made public once both countries have signed the agreement. Switzerland has indicated that the process for Italy to sign the agreement is currently underway. The glaciers beneath the Matterhorn are shrinking at an alarming rate. Last year, Glamos issued a warning that some Swiss glaciers are melting so quickly that it is unlikely they can be preserved, even if global temperatures are kept within the limits set by the Paris climate agreement, which aims to limit the rise to 1. 5 degrees Celsius. Experts have expressed concern that without a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, larger glaciers, such as the Aletsch glacier, which is not located on the border, could vanish within a generation. In recent years, the melting glaciers have led to the discovery of various items that had been lost for decades. For instance, a boot and climbing equipment belonging to a German climber who went missing in 1986 were found on the Theodul Glacier. The boot, which was brown and dirty with red shoelaces, was discovered alongside other climbing gear. Climbers crossing the glacier near Zermatt stumbled upon the hiking boot and crampons that had emerged from the ice. Additionally, in 2022, wreckage from a plane that crashed in 1968 was uncovered from the Aletsch glacier. Furthermore, the body of a British climber named Jonathan Conville was found in 2014 by a helicopter pilot who noticed something unusual while delivering supplies to a mountain refuge on the Matterhorn.