The Alps: Europe’s cherished but endangered mountains
Troublingly, a report released today by the European Environment
Agency concludes that global climate change poses a grave threat
to the alpine hydrological system, altering precipitation, snow-
cover patterns and glaciers, with further effects downstream.
Hosting most of the headwaters of the rivers Danube, Rhine, Po
and Rhone, the Alps are also exposed to increasing demand for
water to satisfy the needs of agriculture and the tourism
sector. The EEA report calls on public and private actors at the
regional and local levels to better coordinate water and land
use and to share water resources more efficiently across
sectors. Success factors for implementing adaptation include
technological measures (such as improved irrigation techniques
or wastewater and greywater re-use), initiatives to manage water
demand (such as awareness raising and reducing water use by
households) and ensuring full participation and empowerment of
regional and local actors. To suppl