Welcome, Lykkers! The majesty of the Alps has long inspired awe with their icy giants – the glaciers.

But in recent decades, these ancient rivers of ice have become fragile, vulnerable, and in many cases, are vanishing.

This article explores the findings from the 2024 “Carovana dei Ghiacciai” campaign, a journey led by Legambiente in cooperation with CIPRA Italia and the Italian Glaciological Committee. Through 7 observation points and 12 monitored glaciers across Italy and its neighboring regions, a story of rapid loss, changing ecosystems, and urgent environmental action unfolds.

Severe Ice Loss in the Alps

Europe’s Glaciers at Risk:

Forecasts suggest that if global temperatures rise by 2.7°C by the year 2100, central Europe could lose all of its glacier coverage. The Alps are already showing alarming signs.

From France to Slovenia, the icy landscapes are retreating at a rapid pace, especially since the early 2000s. These once-dominant features are being replaced by rock and debris, altering the region’s geography and stability.

Mountains Becoming Unstable:

The disappearance of glaciers has triggered a chain reaction. Without the ice anchoring slopes, landslides and debris flows have increased, especially during severe weather events. The mountain environment is becoming more unpredictable and hazardous.

Highlights from the Carovana dei Ghiacciai

The Case of Mer de Glace and Flua:

At Mont Blanc, the iconic Mer de Glace has lost 300 meters of thickness over 174 years. On Monte Rosa, the Flua glacier ceased to exist in 2017. Once the size of 112 football fields, it is now a barren expanse of rock.

Valpelline’s Shrinking Ice:

In the Aosta Valley, glaciers are receding more rapidly, affected by intense weather episodes. Since 1850, the main glacier has shrunk by 7 kilometers. The Grand Murrailles glacier alone has shortened by 1.3 kilometers since 2005, and its ice front has moved 500 meters uphill. Similarly, the Tza de Tzan glacier has lost 1.2 kilometers since 2002.

Fellaria’s Lake Emergence:

In Lombardy, the Fellaria glacier has lost nearly half of its surface since 1850. The retreat created a vast glacial lake, expanding significantly after 2003 and now covering an area equal to 30 football fields.

Marmolada and Glaciers Below 3500m:

The Marmolada glacier, once covering 500 hectares, has seen a dramatic reduction of over 80% in area and over 94% in volume since 1888. Melt rates can reach 7 cm per day during peak heat. It, along with other glaciers below 3500 meters, is expected to vanish by 2040.

Alpine Glaciers in Critical State

The Canin and Triglav Retreat:

In the Julian Alps, the Canin glacier (Friuli Venezia Giulia) and Triglav glacier (Slovenia) are almost gone. Canin’s surface shrank from 9.5 to 1.4 hectares. Triglav dropped from 40 hectares in 1946 to just 0.2 in 2022.

A Rare Glimmer of Hope:

The Montasio glacier has shown resilience, accumulating 8 meters of snow during the 2023-2024 winter, offering a rare moment of optimism.

Forni Glacier’s Heat Exposure:

The Forni glacier melted consistently from July through early August under intense heat. Melt rates ranged from 4 to 8 cm per day at altitudes above 2600 meters, with total thickness losses approaching 2 meters in frontal areas.

A Call for Immediate Action

Key Proposals for Protection:

Legambiente, in light of these observations and the upcoming International Year of Glaciers, has presented five key proposals:

1. Implementation of national and local climate adaptation plans.

2. Promotion of sustainable high-altitude tourism to reduce excessive foot traffic.

3. Education and awareness campaigns to reduce littering in mountain areas.

4. Protection of emerging ecosystems created by retreating ice.

5. Development of a plan to dismantle abandoned mountain structures.

Scientific and Community Engagement

Data and Dedication:

Throughout the campaign, researchers combined historical data with field observations to track shrinking thickness, surface area, and length. This method helped identify the environmental impacts of disappearing ice on biodiversity, water resources, and terrain stability.

A Shared Responsibility:

Experts emphasize the need for scientific investment and sustainable land management to mitigate future damage. Rising temperatures, shifting freeze lines, and more frequent extreme weather are warning signals demanding immediate collective effort.

Conclusion

Protecting the Future:

The glaciers of the Alps are more than icy monuments; they are vital indicators of global change and critical sources of freshwater. Their retreat affects ecosystems, local communities, and the climate itself. The time to act is now.

Through awareness, sustainable choices, and coordinated policy, there is still hope to preserve what remains of these majestic formations for future generations. Let’s stand together, Lykkers, and be part of the movement to protect the last of the Alpine giants.