Impact of Climate Change on National Boundaries and Glacial Melt

Description

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Context:

Switzerland and Italy have agreed to redraw a part of their national boundary. This is because the melting Alpine glaciers are shifting the historically defined frontier.

The agreement in the context of how natural borders, particularly those in mountainous regions, are continually shifting. It was ratified by Switzerland in 2023 and is currently pending approval from Italy.

The Role of Glaciers in Defining Borders

Aspect	Details
*Natural Features as Boundaries*	Glaciers, snowfields, and watersheds have historically served as natural boundary markers between nations
*Swiss-Italian Border*	Determined by the ridge along the highest points of the glaciers under the Matterhorn Mountain.
*Effect of Glacier Melting*	As glaciers melt, the highest points shift, causing the ridge marking the boundary to move
*Border Shift Example*	Melting glaciers have shifted the border further into Italian territory, leading to a redrawing of the Swiss-Italian border, with Switzerland gaining territory.
*Other Affected Regions*	Similar changes have occurred along the borders of Austria, Italy, and Switzerland.
*Impact of Rising Temperatures*	Glaciers continue to recede due to global warming, making previously stable boundaries fluid and dynamic.

Europe’s Warming Climate

Rather than being a singular issue, Europe's melting glaciers are a part of a bigger trend driven by climate change.

Following a 6% decline in 2022, the volume of the Swiss glaciers shrank by 4% in 2023.

The 10% decline in just two years, which is comparable to the whole volume of ice lost between 1960 and 1990, illustrates this astounding rate of glacial retreat.

The European State of the Climate 2023 study predicts that 2023 will be the second-warmest year on record for the continent.

Europe has seen three of its warmest years ever since 2020. In 2023, temperatures have been continuously above average for 11 months.

The European Geosciences Union projects that glaciers will lose half of their ice by 2050, even if global warming is kept below 2°C above pre-industrial levels.

Mitigating Measures

Aspect	Details
*Paris Agreement Goal*	The 2015 Paris Agreement aims to limit global temperature increases to 1.5°C to help slow glacier melt and prevent further boundary shifts.
*Geotextiles*	Geotextiles are white fabric sheets placed over glaciers to reflect sunlight and insulate the ice, helping to slow down glacier melting.
*Seabed Curtain*	The Seabed Curtain project proposes a massive curtain anchored to the seabed along Antarctica’s coast to block warm water from accelerating glacial melt. The Seabed Curtain is estimated to cost between $40 billion and $80 billion, with annual maintenance expenses ranging from $1 billion to $2 billion.
*Importance of Investment*	These costly solutions reflect the growing need for substantial investment and international cooperation to combat the effects of climate change on glaciers.

READ IN DETAIL-

International Courts And Climate Change

The evolution and essentials of India's climate policy

HISTORY OF THE UNITED NATIONS CLIMATE CHANGE

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-climate/climate-change-forcing-italy-switzerland-redraw-national-borders-9601967/

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q.Discuss how climate change is affecting national boundaries. What are the geopolitical, environmental, and legal challenges arising from these boundary shifts, and how should nations respond to address these issues? (250 words)