GS III
Context: Recently, UNESCO and IUCN released this report, which outlines 50 world heritage sites and provides suggestions for their protection.
World Heritage glaciers cover almost 10% of the Earth’s glacierized area and play a crucial role in sustaining life on Earth. However, they are retreating at an accelerated rate because of climate change. E.g. of world heritage glaciers:
Dolomites of Italy and on Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro, as well as the world’s highest glaciers (near Mt. Everest) and the longest glacier (located in Alaska
Key observations: •A third of the glaciers on the UNESCO World Heritage list is under threat, regardless of efforts to limit temperature increases.
•Glaciers have been retreating at an accelerated rate since 2000 due to CO2 emissions, which are warming temperatures – and are responsible for nearly 5% of observed global sea level rise.
•It was still possible to save the other two-thirds if the rise in global temperatures did not exceed 1.5°C compared to the pre-industrial era. Suggestions: •Urgently need to cut greenhouse gas emissions and invest in nature-based solutions, which can help mitigate climate change and allow people to better adapt to its impacts
