Climate change describes long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns driven by natural processes and, increasingly, by human activity. The main reason is human emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases.

Since the industrial era, rising greenhouse gas emissions have warmed the planet by more than 1 °C, with Europe heating faster than the global average. Estimates show that the current trend will lead to a rise in the global temperature with 2–3°C by the year 2100.

Burning coal, oil and gas for power, heat, transport and industry releases large amounts of carbon dioxide, the leading human-made greenhouse gas.

Deforestation, intensive agriculture and waste management add methane and nitrous oxide, which trap even more heat in the atmosphere.

Europe is experiencing more frequent heatwaves, intense rainfall and longer droughts, putting pressure on public health, agriculture and energy systems.

Snow cover is decreasing and glaciers are melting. Coastal regions face rising sea levels and stronger storm surges, while central and southern areas contend with water scarcity and wildfire risks.

Snow and ice normally reflect sunlight, but when they melt earlier in the season the exposed rock and soil absorb more heat, accelerating temperature rise.

Thin alpine air also holds less moisture, limiting the cooling effect of evaporation and making high-altitude regions especially sensitive to climate change.

Alpine glaciers have lost significant ice mass in recent decades, with several valleys recording record melt rates during the summers of 2022 and 2023.

As the ice retreats to higher elevations, iconic glaciers such as the Mer de Glace and the Presena Glacier continue to shrink in both area and thickness.

Communities that rely on consistent snowpack for winter tourism face shorter seasons and higher costs for snowmaking as nearby glaciers shrink.

Meltwater variability influences drinking water, agriculture and hydropower, making long-term planning more complex for residents across Italy, Switzerland and Austria.

Choosing renewable electricity, improving home insulation and eating more plant-based meals all cut personal greenhouse gas emissions.

Opting for low-carbon transport such as walking, cycling or public transit lowers pollution and improves local air quality.

Mountain municipalities invest in early warning systems for floods and landslides, diversify tourism beyond skiing and restore forests to stabilise slopes.

Cross-border cooperation helps coordinate river management, emergency planning and ecosystem restoration from the Dolomites to the Western Alps.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) publishes assessments that summarise climate science and outline mitigation and adaptation pathways.

European resources such as the European Environment Agency and the EU Climate Adapt platform provide region-specific data, case studies and policy updates.

This is when large companies that sell products that are particularly harmful to the climate, sponsor events in exchange for advertising their products. In effect, gas and oil companies, airlines and manufacturers of cars with internal combustion engines.

The advertising leads to increased sales, which results in greater emissions. Often, the resulting emissions are greater than those caused by the event itself, including travel.

According to a scientific report, if we continue down the path we are on now, we are left with about four climate-reliable locations by 2050, and we're down to one city by 2080.

The four cities projected to remain climate-reliable in 2050 are Lake Placid, New York, Lillehammer and Oslo, Norway, and Sapporo, Japan. Of the above, the only climate-reliable city by 2080, will be Sapporo.