Alpine glaciers are particularly sensitive to global warming. The increase in greenhouse gas emissions, especially carbon dioxide (CO₂), contributes to rising global temperatures and accelerates glacier melting.
This page offers an educational estimation that connects CO₂ emissions from human activities (such as transportation) to a potential impact on Alpine glaciers.
The goal is to make the link between individual behaviour and the evolution of high-mountain environments easier to understand.
Since the end of the 19th century, most Alpine glaciers have lost a significant portion of their surface area and volume.
This evolution is mainly linked to the increase in global average temperatures caused by the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
When melting becomes stronger than snow accumulation, glaciers gradually retreat.
Human activities — transport, heating and industry — emit carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
This greenhouse gas traps part of the Earth's heat, leading to a progressive increase in global temperatures.
In mountain regions, this warming accelerates summer glacier melting and modifies the balance between snow accumulation and ice loss.
Educational estimation based on average emission factors.
Select a glacier and click "Calculate".
Individual actions may seem small, but when combined at large scale they contribute to reducing global greenhouse gas emissions.