October 2013 Page 1

Editor Sara Sottocornola

www.evk2cnr.org Special www.montagna.tv Number 5 www.highsummit.org October 2013

Mountain and climate change Summit feelings by AGOSTINO DA POLENZA ringing back the sense of de pathologies - in areas where Where the warming hurts more elevation, the feeling of rea- there are not only mountaineers, by SARA SOTTOCORNOLA chingB a summit, of a 360 degrees but also locals working every view. The High Summit is all of day. Deep ice core drillings on n the last 50 years the global this applied to the scientifi c rese- glaciers, on the silt beds of high mean temperature has risen by arch, the knowledge of mountains altitude lakes for paleontological I and the development and well research, for muscle, heart and half a degree. being of the people who inhabit brain fatigue, their adaptation In the Alpine region though, it has them. Sounds like a challenging to the lack of oxygen in order increased more: somewhere by program? Perhaps so, but when to understand not only the adju- one degree and at higher altitudes it comes to mountains, we at sting mechanisms, but also why by almost one and a half degrees. EvK2Cnr are ambitious, possibly and how cancerous cells interact These estimates are what the most even cheeky. But we do have a few with hypoxia, or why free radi- authoritative European climatic reasons to pride ourselves with. cals behave differently amongst models show, to which scientists For more than 25 years we have the various peoples living at high and governments alike are trying been climbing mountains, seeing altitudes. How much water is to fi nd answers, also in light of a them as a source for knowledge, available in the vast terrestrial further warming in future decades. an opportunity for scientifi c rese- glacial deposits of the planet (i.e. Is this the same old climate war- arch, a place where man and na- glaciers), and for how long will it ture can learn how to enter into be available? What are the right ning? Not at all. a challenging but highly fruitful policies to increase the number Let’s try and focus on the mountain mutual relationship. We also do and quality of forests. Culture, environment, an ecosystem that it because it is pleasant and we craftsmanship and art are the hi- surrounds us and is part of our li- like it. We have developed awa- storical heritage of human intel- ves, whether we realize it or not. reness and knowledge both in the ligence in the mountains as well. After all – and as trivial as it may management of complex logistics Such heritage must be protected sound – water is at the centre of the and organizational systems, and and valued as a resource – even issue and our livelihood depends also in the engineering of the an economic one, if you think of on it like nothing else. structures, equipment and instru- tourism, for example. The signs of climate change on mentation used in the mountains. This is what we have been wor- mountains are plain for everyone The Pyramid Laboratory-Obser- king on for more than 25 years. to see. vatory on Everest is at the core There is about one hundred of of our system. Climatic exami- us: a group of people who love Glaciers retreating, avalanches, nations and consequent chan- mountains and the countries serac collapses, fl oods, landslides ges and adjustments, mitigation where they are located, Nepal for and slope instability. In the last 15 plans for their effects. Medicine, example, but also Italy, France, years an increase in extreme wea- physiology, preventive measures Pakistan, Uganda, Chile. ther events has been reported, both Ice cave, Gore (Photo: Marcello Alborghetti) and treatments for high altitu- We are happy and proud if it. Continue to page2

Fifth IPCC report Is mankind the major cause of climate change? Ice cover halved and more frequent heat waves Climate is changing... to come in the upcoming decades .....even on your by VERONICA ULIVIERI mountains

t is highly likely that human ber, leaves little room for doubt “Iactivity is the major cause on the underlying causes of this of the global warming observed phenomenon that scientists, po- Events in Lecco since 1950.” The rst part of the liticians and the general public fth IPCC (Intergovernmental have been talking about – and Panel on Climate Change) report worrying about – for decades. Multimedia Pyramid EVK2CNR-COBAT on climate change (AR5), made “The past three decades have Videos on the e ects of climate change October 3-27, Piazza Cermenati public at the beginning of Octo- Continue to page2 Ragni di Lecco Mountains and Climate Change Film exhibition International Scienti c Conference October 22, at 21.00, Auditorium Chamber of Commerce Roped together: Lecco for the mountains October 23 - 24 - 25, Politecnico - Polo territoriale di Lecco After being nominated “Alpine Town of the Year 2013” by the Mountain Happy hour Alpine Convention international committee, Lecco was the Breathing Himalaya Only 1 euro: take the voucher at the A hypermedia exhibit between nature and science High Summit info-point obvious choice to host the 2013 High Summit. As the fth October 3-27, Palazzo delle Paure, Piazza Cermenati October 24, 18.00 - 21.00 Piazza XX Settembre Italian city to be awarded the title since it was established in 1997, Lecco succeeds Annecy (France), based on the city’s Science to the streets Mountain Voices strong environmental friendliness and its sustainable deve- A box for the analysis of air quality Evening show October 23 - 24 - 25, Politecnico - Polo territoriale di Lecco October 24, at 21.00, Teatro Sociale lopment policies in mountain areas. (On page 11-12) Page 2 October 2013 October 2013 Page 3 HIGH SUMMIT CLIMATE

From Martin Beniston to Gaetano Leone “We are in it together, for better or worse”” Why the High Summit? Gathered together the Polluted air on the mountains as in the city? by SARA SOTTOCORNOLA by VALENTINA D’ANGELLA he name draws its inspiration later, mountains, “sentinels of cli- lopment, particularly vulnerable most authoritative voices from the International Year of mate change”, have fi nally beco- to climate change and natural di- TMountains 2002, when a global me a “hot topic” on international sasters”, and invited governments videoconference, for the fi rst time, agendas, thanks also to the offi - to the implementation of policies of international research gathered together researchers and cial recognition given by the fi nal which are specifi c to these areas. he High Summit scientifi c zation, Barbara Ryan, Director of politicians from all continents, report of the Rio+20 UN summit, High Summit 2013 represents a conference will have as guests the Group on Earth Observations with the aim of defi ning common which defi ned them as “essen- unique opportunity to take stock of Tsome of the most prominent world Secretariat and Surendra Raj Ka- development strategies. Ten years tial for global sustainable deve- the situation. mountain and climate change ex- fl e, Vice Chancellor of the Nepal perts, from research centers and Academy of Science and Techno- other institutions. Among them, logy (NAST). Researchers coming Martin Beniston, from the Institute from all over the world will take Pollutants in the Khumbu Valley, Nepal Grignetta (Photo: Marco Caccia) for Environmental Sciences of the turns at the 6 round tables devo- countries, where people burn fi - What happens when serious pol- damage is becoming aware of the University of Geneva, who will ted to Climate, Cryosphere, Water, echnically they are called ae- When we talk about fi ne particula- rewood in their houses for cooking lution occurs in urban as well as current situation: in other words, chair the session devoted to cli- Mountain Parks, Economic and rosols. On the newspapers, ho- te matter, we refer to particles that T and heating. Carbonaceous parti- rural areas at a low altitude is that, we have to monitor the atmosphe- mate, and Gaetano Leone, Deputy Environmental Impacts of Climate wever, we often read about PM10 can be solid or liquid, existing in cles released in a room by cooking as soon as certain conditions are re in different places of the planet, Secretary of IPCC, entrusted with Change. On the last day, the High or PM2.5. As a matter of fact, this nature or man-made. Marine aero- or heating fi res, from open bra- met (warming of the slopes of a fi rst of all in mountainous regions, the task of expressing the summit’s Summit will focus on the Alpine is particulate matter polluting the sol, volcanic ash and desert sand ziers, not equipped with chimneys, mountain, resulting in mountain or as mountains represent privileged fi nal remarks. Outstanding repre- Convention, an international treaty air we breathe and resulting in are particles that originate spon- cause extremely serious damage valley breeze), valleys turn into ca- points of observation to conduct sentatives of the scientifi c world aimed at promoting the sustainable dire consequences for human he- taneously in nature: they are tran- to human health, including chro- nals conveying pollution – which this kind of studies. This was the will make the opening remarks: development of the Alpine region, alth, climate, glaciers and unique sported by winds and we fi nd them nic obstructive pulmonary disease of course is not originally produ- premise of the Share project, a net- Luigi Nicolais, President of the presided over by Italy in 2013- ecosystems of the world. They can deposited on car windshields in (COPD) and other cardiovascular ced at high altitudes – to mountain work of weather stations collecting Italian National Research Council 2014. Expo 2015 is another subject be natural or man-made and, no cities and even in mountain areas, pathologies. peaks, glaciers and other natural data which are fundamental both to (Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricer- which will be dealt with on the matter where they are emitted, pol- on the Alps as well as in the Hi- “We really have to understand habitats which are normally pristi- understand climate change and to che), Surendra Shrestha, Director 25th October, going into the details lution has no boundaries and what malayan region, where they give a that pollution has no boundari- ne and unblemished.” provide national institutions with of UNEP’s Environmental Techno- of the role of mountains within the we introduce in the atmosphere in dark, brownish or reddish nuance es nor frontiers,” explains Paolo The fi rst step in order to reverse information which is essential for logy Center, Deon Terblanche, Di- framework of the Universal Expo- big cities inevitably reaches unble- to ice and snow. Particulate mat- Bonasoni, researcher affi liated this trend or at least try to limit the them to take concrete measures. rector of the Atmospheric Rese- sition in Milan, devoted to the the- mished places such as high altitude ter created by human activities, on both to Isac-Cnr in Bologna and arch and Environment branch of me “Feeding the planet”. mountain areas. Our behavior af- the other hand, derives from urban to EvK2Cnr. “We cannot solve the World Meteorological Organi- (B.C) fects climate even from a distance, and non urban traffi c, industrial Measuring climate in remote areas: from the mountain to the sea which is why pollution is a global processes, heating systems or from the problem by just paying a fee, and the issue is regardless of lon- The role of research issue: we are in it together, for bet- the combustion of biomasses, as it ter or worse. happens particularly in developing gitude, latitude and even altitude. A remote climate station gets Climate change is basically an increase in uncertainty. Scienti c research, with status quo data and predictive models, is essen- to Lecco for the High Summit tial in de ning international strategies and actions. Studying mountains and the changes occurring at high altitudes is no easy task. Logistic as well as physical di culties are obvious, nevertheless the data that can be collected in such locations are key to make predictions and understand future developments. the atmosphere is under observation Thankfully, there are people who for decades have been Share, the name of a project implemented by the EvK2Cnr Committee, is an acronym standing for “Sta- committed in this eld with tireless dedication and perseve- tions at High Altitude for Research on the Environment”. The project is based on a network of weather rance, like the EvK2Cnr Committee. “The mountain issue has to and climate stations located in di erent places of the mountain regions of the world. Climate stations become a priority in development agendas, and it needs to be measure particulate matter particles, whereas weather stations detect more ordinary parameters, such the subject of scienti c, political and economic debates,” says as temperature, humidity and pressure. In the Himalayan region there are several stations in the Khum- Agostino Da Polenza, President of the Committee. “The High bu Valley, between the village of Lukla (at an altitude of 2,800 m) and Everest South Col, at the consi- Summit conference is the result of these considerations and an derable altitude of 8,000 m. The Ottavio Vittori station is located in Italy, on Mount Cimone, while the attempt to address those needs.” Rwenzori station is in Africa and other control units were installed in the Karakorum area. These strategic Politecnico di Milano Nuovo Polo territoriale di Lecco observation points are very important to understand what is happening to the Earth’s climate: they con- tinuously collect data which are unique and which are invaluable to con rm global forecasting models, Pakistan Climate Observatory I-Amica SOMMARIO in cooperation with international partners such as Unep, Wmo and Nasa. Share High altitude research going on from page 1 activities are currently being carried out all over the world and a portal with data related to weather and ow do you measure clima- from 23rd to 25th October. PAGE 2 high altitude environment has been created. Validated and reliable analytic data on mountain envi- Hte in high altitude remote The RCS system, developed by HIGH SUMMIT Fifth IPCC report... ronments are available to the international scienti c community and to political decision-makers. This is areas? Generally by collecting EvK2Cnr in cooperation with the Where the warming... known as Geonetwork and it was o cially presented to the United Nations Summit ‘Rio+20’ last year. data in xed observatories and Italian National Research Council, PAGE 3 in terms of intensity and frequency. lan Polytechnic’s local academic been increasingly warmer. Each 4.8°C in the worst-case scenario. research stations located at within the framework of the CLIMATE preceding decade since 1850 “It is almost certain that with the high altitude. Examples of these project I-Amica ( High techno- This causes damage to agriculture, campus. At its core will be a large stations are the Nepal Climate logy infrastructure for integrated recorded lower temperatures,” rise in global mean temperatures PAGES 45 water supplies, ski resorts, electric international scientifi c conference, Observatory at the Pyramid loca- climatic-environmental moni- WATER AND GLACIER power and as a result whole villa- which from the 23rd–25th October scientists claim. there will be an increase of extre- ted on the Himalaya, the Mauna toring), sponsored by Miur (the ges have been abandoned by now. will host world-class luminaries “The atmosphere and the oceans me heat peaks and a decrease in Loa one in Hawaii or the Jung- Italian Ministry of Education, Uni- PAGE 6 EvK2Cnr gives its contribution to international programs have warmed up, the amount of cold peaks in most areas, both fraujoch on the Swiss Alps. versities and Research), is able ECOSYSTEMS It is increasingly diffi cult to on mountain and climate research, Global warming is not limited to an increase of the temperature by some degrees: its e ects are snow and ice has decreased, the daily and seasonal ones. It is hi- When such investigation to measure the concentration of live, work and run economies in and which will produce a summa- indeed numerous and complex. In order to thoroughly analyze the phenomenon, several internatio- PAGE 7 global mean sea level has incre- ghly likely that there will be an in- activities are impossible or too Short Lived Climate Pollutants, mountain areas. rizing document to be submitted to nal research programs have been launched in the last few years, including the scienti c activities of complex to be carried out, or such as black carbon and ozone, FROM THE MONDO This highly biodiverse and fasci- the United Nations on the occasion ased and greenhouse gases con- creased frequency and duration EvK2Cnr. Such research programs undoubtedly include Ipcc, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate it is necessary to get informa- as well as to detect the size of PAGE 8 nating ecosystem is, on the other of the COP19 in Warsaw (United centrations have also increased,” of heat waves. Change, which was founded in 1988 by two UN agencies (Unep and Wmo). Ipcc has recently publi- tion from sites which are envi- the atmospheric particulate mat- said Qin Dahe, co-Chair of the Occasionally, cold winters will ronmentally sensitive, the need ter and to collect weather data. SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACTS hand, a fragile one too, and needs Nations Framework Convention shed the rst volume of the fth report on climate change which will be discussed on the occasion of protection. Financial returns are on Climate Change). IPCC Working Group I. “Severe continue to occur,” some scien- the next conference of the parties on climate change (COP19). EvK2Cnr will also participate. arises for sophisticated portable In order to operate, the station PAGE 9 and long-lasting reductions of tists add. In the Northern Hemi- In 2003, Unep also launched the Abc program, aiming at assessing the impact on mankind and monitoring stations, able to work requires a limited amount of meager perhaps, but our economy And all of this will be surrounded at an altitude of more than 4,000 energy, supplied by two solar pa- greenhouse gases are necessary sphere, the spring snow cover environment of the thick brown clouds which cover parts of the Asian sky and contain high concen- ENVIRONMENT AND FUTURE depends on mountains all the by a variety of events to draw m. One of these is the “Remote nels. A remote connection allows tration of pollutants. The EvK2Cnr Committee contributes to the project with the Pyramid Laboratory same, and often politics fails at re- everyone’s attention. Because in order to contain climate chan- surface will also decrease by Climate Station” brought last distance interaction between the PAGE 10 monitoring station, located at the foot of the Nepalese side of Mount Everest. Ccac (Climate and clean cognizing this. mountains affect all of us, even ge,” added co-chair Thomas Sto- 7–25% from now until the end summer to the Deosai plateau, in RCS and technicians, in order to LECCO EVENTS air coalition) is the latest initiative launched for the mitigation of the e ects of Short Lived Climate Now it is time to start caring about those who do not have any direct cker. of the century. If the sea level Pakistan, for a series of important provide real time data. Pollutants: EvK2Cnr participated in it with its research activities related to black carbon and other PAGE 11 The report includes four di erent will continue to rise in the upco- tests and eld measurements. Within the framework of the it. Each and every one of us. This experience of them. short lived pollutants typical of mountain areas. Last but not least, the EvK2Cnr Committee collabora- scenarios that consider a tempe- ming decades (by 0.52–0.98 m in You can take a look at it for I-Amica project, besides the im- LECCO ALPINE TOWN is the message sent by the High tes with Geo, the Group on Earth Observation, created in 2005, including today the European Com- OF THE YEAR yourself and discover how it plementation of the RCS, the in- Summit, the major event suppor- rature rise – for the period 2081– the worst-case scenario), climate mission and 88 countries of the world. EvK2Cnr participates with the projects Share and Nextdata for works at the 2013 High Summit, frastructure of eight monitoring PAGE 12 ted by EvK2Cnr, in cooperation 2100, and relative to the period change will also a ect the carbon the monitoring of mountain ecosystems. the international conference on super-sites located in key places HIGH SUMMIT AND LECCO with the Chamber of Commerce, 1986-2005 – of 0.3–1.7°C in the cycle and therefore increase CO2 mountains and climate change of the Mediterranean region is the Municipality of Lecco and Mi- most optimistic case, and of 2.6– levels in the atmosphere. which will take place in Lecco currently being enhanced. Page 4 October 2013 October 2013 Page 5 WATER AND GLACIERS WATER AND GLACIERS Less ice and snow Face to face with the glaciologist Melting of the ice and permafrost Permafrost causes Here is how water cycles Interview landslides and with Claudio Smiraglia Is a warmer planet greenhouse e ect? bywill ANTONELLA MANCINIchange laudio Smiraglia, who anby VALENTINA unstable D’ANGELLA one too? Cwill Chair the High Sum- ow does climate change af- mit session focused on the Hfect the water cycle? To sim- Cryosphere, is amongst the ply associate them with droughts, top international experts as is often heard in the news, is ra- on glaciers. Professor at ther reductive. Sure enough, when the University of Milan and glaciers melt the streams’ fl ow researcher at EvK2Cnr, he is temporarily increases, only to de- the Head of the Glacier In- Forni Glacier, Italian Alps crease in the long run. “In the last ventory (Catasto dei Ghiac- few decades, tangible reductions ciai, founded approximately ermafrost is the permanently interest increased when it was frozen layer of the ground that discovered that permafrost has a of the Lombardy rivers – such as one year ago) as well as P Adda, Oglio, Chiese and Northern formed during the last ice age, large impact on the greenhouse being the Italian represen- up until 10,000 years ago; even e ect: particularly in the Arctic Italy in general – have been obser- tative at the International though the Alpine permafrost is regions, it stores large amounts ved in spring and summer, sugge- Glaciological Society. so much thinner than the 1.5 km of frozen organic matter which, sting a reduction in both the area depth of the Siberian one, it is no- once thawed, releases carbon and the duration of the snow cover netheless present above 2,600 m dioxide and methane. Landslides as well as in the glacial cover sur- Professor, which will be the hot topics at the conference? a.s.l. have triggered the alarm in the face,” explains Daniele Bocchio- Today the cryosphere can be pic, which concerns the amount Soil stability, landslides, water mountain regions: permafrost la, researcher at the Polytechnic considered emblematic as the of water present in the cryosphe- reserves and high altitude ve- deterioration can cause large and University of Milan and EvK2Cnr. most important symptom of the re, both in glaciers and in the getation are all connected to deep detachments. The Val Pola In the future, this phenomenon ongoing climatic changes. First permafrost. A third major theme the permafrost, whose decline, landslide in 1987, where bulks could cause a reduction in water of all, it is necessary to under- is the ongoing evolution of the ascertained by scienti c studies of frozen soil were found in the availability in downstream areas, Karakoram Glaciers stand the extent of the ice cover cryosphere, which is the subject and correlated to climate chan- debris, was the rst to draw the beyond the Polar Regions, that is, of very many studies: once the including the Po Valley. “Since ges, directly a ects communities, experts’ attention. bution such as Himalaya, Kara- ductive scenarios and effects con- on mountainous areas. The draf- global trend is understood, the mountaineers and mountain en- “Cryoclastism” - meltwater from temperatures are warmer, at high korum and the Andes, complex nected with a possible water re- ting of the glacier inventories is priority will then shift into investi- thusiasts at large. the permafrost seeps through the altitudes the same precipitations highly valuable, both nationally gating the causes. More speci c water management systems are in duction, research is also looking at “Up until 7-8 years ago, perma- rock cracks during the summer result in more rain and less snow. and internationally. Thus, there is and technical topics will also be place. Faced with the possibility of the effects that this situation might frost had been studied almost season, and then expands when According to our studies, the ri- an ever-increasing need for cross- discussed at High Summit, inclu- a decrease in availability, the dif- have on ecosystems. disciplinary studies (ideological, ding methods and instruments Pakistan, Gore exclusively in the polar regions”, it freezes again in the winter time. vers of Lombardy could be facing ferent downstream users will have “Changes in the water cycle in chemical, technological) in order used in eld studies, from satellite says Mauro Guglielmin, Profes- Over time, this phenomenon signifi cant fl ow reductions in the to cooperate in order to design and mountain ecosystems could also to face another fundamental to- imagery to ice coring. sor at the University of Insubria, helps the cracks to enlarge, hen- next 30–40 years, especially in ce, in all of its forms, is amongst stable with the occurrence of ava- Long cold periods have alternated researcher for EvK2Cnr and one ce compromising the stability of implement appropriate strategies affect the fl ora and fauna, in par- summer.” This would affect agri- What is the main focus of the most recent studies? the fi rst elements to be affected lanches and serac collapses. with others even warmer than to- of the most prominent Europe- rock walls and mountaineering to cope with abrupt changes of the ticular – but not only – freshwater I culture and the water resources The causes of the reduction in glaciers are being covered in by the global warming due to cli- The scientifi c community, unlike day. Humans have had an impact an experts on permafrost. The routes. (E.B) water cycle and extreme events.” and riparian species, which would management: “In the Alps and the the cryosphere represent one debris due to an increase in rock mate change. For the past 150 ye- the press, does not spread unne- as well: it is demonstrated that the While there is currently a strong have to adapt to the changes of Po Valley, as well as in other areas of the topics under the micro- falls from mountain walls. The ars we have been witnessing a rise cessary alarms, although it does renowned “greenhouse effect” is focus on the economic and pro- their own habitat.” scope. Today the focus is on the freeze-thaw cycles are indeed in- acknowledge the situation and directly related to anthropogenic The world’s deepest drilling is Italian with a strong nivo-glacial contri- in temperature which is causing It reaches 235 m of depth and is located at 3,285 m a.s.l. on the Stelvio pollutants that are deposited creasing and the freezing level is the need for proper management pollution and emissions. Recent onto the glaciers and which moving towards higher altitudes. a severe reduction of the Earth’s Pass. Performed in 2010 as part of the SHARE Stelvio project, in coo- stimulate the melting, such as The transition to debris-covered cryosphere (glaciers, permafrost through mitigatory as well as pre- studies have shown how the ice peration with EvK2Cnr and Fondazione Lombardia per l’Ambiente, the industrially-produced particula- glaciers is an increasing pheno- and snow levels). ventive measures. In order to do so, melting is closely correlated to world’s deepest permafrost drilling broke new grounds for permafrost tes or, in countries like Nepal, the menon worldwide. As an example, since 1850 the ice it is fundamental to understand the climate and temperature, but also research. The shaft, located nearby the Rifugio Guasti monitoring station, heavy use of rewood. Moreover, underpinning causes. Some claims how anthropogenic pollution, due is equipped with 15 thermometers at di erent depths: since the start The Glacier Inventory cover in the Alps alone has redu- of the measurements researchers have found a steady thinning of the attribute it to natural cycles: in to depositions on the ice surface, The health of the Earth’s “frozen heart” is monitored by the World Glacier What could be done to save the cryosphere? ced by almost half of its surface. permafrost layer. Monitoring Service, and data are collected and stored in the World Gla- The ice and snow thickness, mel- Earth’s 4.5 billion year history the might be critical in favoring and Science should mainly promote The e ective intervention, for cier Inventory. The rst inventory in Italy, prepared and published by the ting every summer at a rate of up climate has been ever-changing. increasing the melting rates. Italian Glaciological Committee (Comitato Glaciologico Italiano) together a preventive approach. On the example to reduce atmospheric with CNR, dates back to the end of the 1950s, and was subsequently short term, it is paramount that emissions, is however of political to 5-6 meters, is no longer reple- updated in the 1980s. In 2012 the project for a new Italian Glacier Inven- all the authorities involved with nature, therefore extremely com- nished by the winter snowfall. In First permafrost study in the Karakoram In June 2012 the rst scienti c eld expedition was carried out in order tory was launched in compliance with the international requirements: mountains or the cryosphere plex and has to be dealt with other words, the cycle of accumu- The cryosphere constitutes 15% actively work towards raising appropriately. to study the permafrost in Karakorum, where studies on this subject are this project is set to complete by 2014 and has already published some lation and ablation is brought out of the Earth’s land surface (at awareness around what is going On the whole, it is a matter of almost non-existent. The estimates of the permafrost cover on these data: in Lombardy - region with the largest glaciers nationally - the of balance. peak during March and April) number of glaciers has increased from 167 to 209 due to the numerous on. changing the approach towards 15% mountains is however surprising: according to the climatic and satellite This issue does not involve fragmentations, though the overall surface has decreased by 23%, going There are also occasions whe- mountains and learning how to multi-spectral data, it seems that the permafrost extent might be twice from 115 sq. km in the 1950s to currently 89 sq. km. The inventory was reby the scienti c intervention better manage our relationship mountains alone, with the loss of as large as the glacial cover. Researchers have tried to test these data by started by the University of Milan with Levissima, in cooperation with speci cally addresses the reduc- with nature and the envi- one of their symbolic features. Permafrost covers 20% of installing two monitoring stations on Deosai and Baltoro. The expedition EvK2Cnr and the Italian Glaciological Committee. (E.B) tion of glacial melt, such as in ronment. (V.U) Glaciers mainly represent hydro- land surface, occurring in was sponsored by the EvK2Cnr Committee within the larger climatic and the case of the Presena glacier, logical and energetic resources: in mountain and Polar Regions environmental monitoring program SHARE (Stations at High Altitude 20% for Research on Environment) and was carried out under the scienti c although these are targeted the Valtellina, a heavy reduction in interventions in summer ski supervision of Mauro Guglielmin. resorts and are not appli- ice cover could affect the supply to Ice and snow make up cable on cities such as Milan. In other re- for 80% of all the Earth’s The Karakorum anomaly a global gions, such as Asia or the Andes, freshwater 80% Further proof of the signi cant stability of the Karakorum glaciers in recent scale. glaciers are feeding into rivers and Landslides and ice melting decades comes from hydrology: scienti c studies suggest that a slight The Matterhorn, often closed to mountaineers due to the danger of provide essential water resources rock falls, is perhaps the most symbolic example of permafrost related reduction of the strongly cryonival [ice and snow, ed.] down ow from Glaciers have to for the subsistence of several pe- the Indus high basin,” explains Renzo Rosso, Professor of Hydrology at the In the last 100 years 5-10% instability of the ground which, on the Gran Becca, is monitored mainly oples. Polytechnic University of Milan. Climatic causes are probably at the heart of become the symbol of the ice cover has been lost 5% by researchers of the Zurich University. On the blacklist is also the legen- the phenomenon, but this anomaly may as well preserve the 18,000 square Additionally, mountains become dary north face of the Eiger, which exposes climbers to constant threats kilometers of ice cover of this area for a long time. “As part of the joint of a change more dangerous. Rocks are held of rock falls and land slips. The permafrost alarm on the Eiger was raised by the Swiss WWF in July 2006. The cryoclastism is probably the cause of projects with EvK2Cnr, we are drafting scenarios projections with several cli- together by interstitial ice and the 10% in understanding the August 2003 landslide on the Grande Uja di Ciardoney in the Gran matic models,” continues Rosso, “which show how climate change could af- permanently frozen soil known fect the Karakorum ice around the middle of the century. This development Paradiso National Park, as well as other slides in the Rifugio Vittorio Ema- as permafrost. The rise in tempe- In the last 40 years the snow will have signi cant impact on people, ecosystems and the economy: the our relationship nuele area. The collapse of the Cima Una in Val Fiscalina in the Dolomites cover has decreased by melting of such vast glaciers could indeed provide more water for civil uses, with nature ratures, together with the melting is another well-known example: there, on the 12th October 2007, 60,000 although it could also lead to issues concerning hydrological risks.” of the ice, weakens the rocky soils over 5% in the Northern tons of rock came loose. In general, the whole Dolomites region was hemisphere 5% a ected: le Cinque Torri (2004), Sass Ciampac (2005), Punta delle Dodici causing landslides and subsiden- (Source: Unep, 2007) (2006), and Pale di S.Martino in 2011, when the Sass Maor collapsed. ces. The snow cover becomes less Page 6 October 2013 October 2013 Page 7 ECOSYSTEMS FROM THE WORLD Escape forward and northwards High Summit takes stock News from the world - Climate, science and mountain Mountain parks If climate changes, LOBUCHE, Nepal NEW YORK, United States Ecosystems change The Everest Pyramid gets a new look, or rather Yeti is in trouble! The little snow leopard born at the end of by VALENTINA D’ANGELLA it gets rid of the old solar panels that will be August in the Bronx zoo is in good health, replaced with next-generation ones, which are growing steadily and, despite being comple- along with the climate more e cient and productive. The new mission tely unaware of its own status, has become a to slide on his head. by VERONICA ULIVIERI lfred is a Yeti in trouble. He took place in the fall 2013, and was born from symbol of the international cooperation for used to live on the mountains, These are the mishaps of “Alfred the 20+ year long cooperation between the the conservation of mountain biodiversity. He While global warming speeds in the past. This me- ans that Genziana (Photo: Sergio Nessi) A on the high altitudes of perpetual K. Everest”, struggling with a EvK2Cnr Committee – who manages the Pyramid is the son of Leo, the snow leopard rescued in up the melting of glaciers, the alpine grasses can flower snow and glaciers. One day, thou- world thrown into confusion by Observatory-Laboratory – and Cobat. 2005 in the Nalter Valley, in Northern Pakistan, mountain fl ora and fauna also have earlier, but not all animal gh, he found himself without a climate change. The Yeti, chosen after his mother and brothers had been killed. to adapt to living in a warmer cli- species can hasten their ha- Unable to survive in the wild, he was relocated home: global warming and climate as the High Summit 2013 testimo- mate. “In the Northern Hemisphe- bits in order to catch up with to the USA zoo thanks to a plan by the Iucn change melted it completely and nial, is the protagonist of a series re it has been observed that the rise these changes.” This results and the Pakistani government. so Alfred had to migrate and look of video clips posted on www.hi- in temperature tends to shift the in what scientists call a mi- for another lair. ghsummit.org, aimed at intriguing range of several animal and plant smatch, “for example betwe- And his problems are not over yet: and entertaining viewers. At the species further north. What it me- en the fl owering of alpine he cannot take a bath, because the end of each episode, the presenter, ans is that in mountain regions this grasses and the activi- ty of streams are all dried-up; he wishes Mario Tozzi (a researcher affi lia- shift is towards high altitudes” ex- pollinator insects. If they to go skiing, but instead of snow ted with Cnr, the Italian National CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy SKARDU, Pakistan plains Antonello Provenzale, rese- do not change together, he only fi nds green slopes with Research Council) tries to explain, Landslip at 3,000 m a.s.l in the Soprapiss Group, A large Unesco reserve around K2, in Northern archer at Isac-Cnr in Turin and at then this could be a in the Dolomites. The collapse came from the peddlers selling coconuts, just as it using a virtual board, the causes of Pakistan, extending to the border with China the EvK2Cnr Committee, who will problem.” “All the species we have today Ciadin del Laudo wall on the 30th September, happens on a beach. He is looking the problem affl icting Alfred, whi- and merging Central Karakorum Natonal Park preside over the session on ecosy- Mountainous areas are amongst are adaptable ones, so I would not with a head scarp of 150 m and totaling 1,000 with Khunjerab National Park. This proposal was for peacefulness, but he is anno- le the researchers of the EvK2Cnr cubic meters of debris. Geologists hypothesize stems at the High Summit 2013 the most vulnerable ones in terms consider it a matter of immediate drafted by the EvK2Cnr Committee in cooperation Central Karakorum National Park yed by his new neighbors: animals Committee go into the details of that this was connected to the freeze-thaw cycle, scientifi c conference. A phenome- of climatic changes and biodiver- extinction. Nonetheless, a numeric with the central and regional authorities in Paki- unexpectedly arrived to the “high the matter in a series of video in- as at this time of the year temperatures get close stan, and was submitted to Unesco on the 30th non that “could not be a problem sity, even though, as Provenzale reduction in the snow leopard po- he 2013 High Summit in Lecco discussed. “Protected mountain altitude districts” looking for the terviews. to 0°C at night while they increase during the September. per se, but if we consider animals warns, “we have to make a distin- pulation is possible, given the fact daytime. Twill feature a session devoted environments are extremely fra- food they no longer fi nd downstre- The videos are also broadcast on and plants that have already adap- ction between biodiversity mea- that its range is shrinking and that to mountain Parks, in support of gile, despite the lack of direct am. As far as humans are concer- the screens placed on the walls of ted to live at high altitudes, that is ning the mere number of occur- it possesses neither the camoufl age the importance of safeguarding contact with human activities,” ned, it is certainly not that better: the EvK2Cnr-Cobat Multimedia where the issues are: they cannot ring species and the quality of the coat nor the hunting skills required high altitude ecosystems and explains Franco Mari, biologist, no one is left to scare in the villa- Pyramid located in Piazza Cer- go any higher and therefore they ecosystems. The arrival of lowland to survive in the forest.” biodiversity. researcher for the EvK2Cnr Com- ges, and if he manages to meet so- menati in Lecco from 3rd to 25th are threatened to become extinct.” plants and animals to higher alti- “In this sense climate change could Parks representatives from all mittee and Chair of the session. meone, the mountain is very likely October. Several studies on the biodiversi- tudes could actually increase bio- lead to less diverse ecosystems,” over the world will contribute, “They are very much a ected by including Teodoro Adrisano (Ma- global warming since the species ty of the Alps have shown that the diversity, though in the long run continues Provenzale, “with ef- jella National Park), Wolfgang populating them have adapted most endangered species are in- endemic species could become fects on humans too. Biodiversi- Platter (Stelvio National Park), to live at low temperatures. High BORMIO, Italy deed endemic ones, meaning those extinct. For example, the sprea- ty provides valuable services to OSLO, Norway Ashiq Ahmad Khan (Central Ka- Summit will be an important oc- The maximum thickness of the Forni Glacier in people. Without it we wouldn’t The retreating of the Lendbreen glacier in Norway typical of a specifi c area or ecosy- ding of the European hare in the rakorum National Park) and An- casion to re ect upon this subject Valtellina, the largest valley glacier in the Italian has uncovered a whole and well-preserved tunic stem, such as the rock ptarmigan mountains could cause the extin- have water to drink, food to eat Alps, is about 120 m. This unprecedented me- drew G. Seguya (Uganda Wildlife as well. One approach could cer- made from sheep wool. The discovery took place or the materials we need. Fossil asurement is part of the EvK2Cnr Share-Stelvio in the Alps, or species that do not ction of the mountain hare. Ano- Authority). Mitigating actions ne- tainly be the creation of a net- two years ago at around 2,000 m a.s.l. Carbon and Paprika projects and was performed with move much because of their adap- ther example is the leopard, which fuels themselves were once alive, cessary to manage climate chan- work bringing together the rese- dating results have now been published on the new radar equipment manufactured by the Ingv tation to a particular environment, is moving towards higher altitudes they too come from biodiversity,” ge in the mountain environment archers and those who manage magazine Antiquity and, standing at 1,700 years laboratories in Rome. As part of these projects, summarizes Sergio Savoia, direc- will be amongst the topics to be the parks.”S.S old, the tunic dates back to the Iron Age. for example some types of insects. to follow the forest it has adapted the glaciological unit coordinated by Prof. Claudio Climate change not only affects di- to, and by doing so it crosses paths tor of the WWF European Alpine Smiraglia from the University of Milan is also stribution areas, but it also has an with the snow leopard. “It is hard Program, who will be one of the measuring the depth of other Italian glaciers, outstanding guests at the High An Italian park in the heart of Karakorum such as the Careser in Trentino and the Miage on impact in the phenology of ecosy- to make projections into the futu- Ten thousand square kilometers, counting some of the tallest mountains Mount Blanc. stems, i.e. the seasonal biological re”, says Sandro Lovari from the Summit round table on biodiversi- on Earth including K2, Gasherbrum and Broad Peak. The Central Karako- cycle: “In the last 30 years or so, University of Siena who, together ty, scheduled for the 23rd October rum National Park, already dreamt about by Ardito Desio when he led snow in the mountains has tended with EvK2Cnr, launched a rese- in the afternoon. the expedition for the rst ascent of Mount K2 in 1954, was established to melt sooner in spring than it did arch project on the snow leopard. in 1993 by the Pakistani government, but only today it is truly becoming a protected area thanks to the management plan drafted by EvK2Cnr together with the Karakorum International University and other local Frozen in time: seedbanks against extinction institutions. “We have decided to integrate the classic, purely conservative Seedbanks – also known as germplasm banks – store seeds from various plant species with the purpose of approach with a more proactive one, based on sharing and on a constant extending their lifespan beyond their normal viability to up to hundreds or thousands of years, and allowing for updating of the regulations, which will allow to safeguard the territory SONDRIO, Italy RWENZORI, Uganda reintroduction in di erent areas. This is one of the methods developed to save alpine plants from extinction. It as well as promoting the activities of the locals in order to work towards Global warming forces the  ora and fauna to pack In spring 2013 an EvK2Cnr expedition installed a seems that there are currently around 1,400 seedbanks all over the world. In Italy, the Lombardy Seed Bank was a balanced use of resources,” explains Maurizio Gallo, project manager. up and relocate to higher altitudes. Researchers new weather station at 4,700 m a.s.l. on the Rwen- established in 2005, located within the Botanic Garden at the University of Pavia and managed by Graziano Rossi, CKNP is not only the “highest park on the planet”, it also includes the have quanti ed the “migration” of plants and zori in Uganda, the third tallest mountain in Africa, also a researcher for EvK2Cnr. After the initial collection and cleaning, the seeds are brought into a drying room largest glacial system outside the arctic regions and is the source of the animals that shifted towards higher altitudes, mountain also known as Mountains of the Moon where they reach around 3-7% of water content, low enough to allow for freezing without the risk of ice crystals majority of the country’s freshwater. It is an immense area, and yet at the following favorable conditions, by comparing data and it was a success. It was all part of the Nextdata forming. At this stage the seeds are stored in large freezers that keep them at -18°C. Based on this model, in 2010, same time a very fragile one that needs to be carefully managed. collected in the Bernina in the 1950s with those and SHARE projects, in cooperation with the Uni- the EvK2Cnr Committee started working on a seedbank of Himalayan seeds. This was the birth of the Himalayan of the early 2000s. The fastest ones move at an versity of Nairobi and the Uganda Meteorological seedbank based in Kathmandu. average rate of 35 meters every three years. Department. (photo below)

Gran Paradiso: are ibexes in danger? During the period 1985-1995 the number of ibexes specimen in the Gran Paradiso National Park had increased signi cantly: warmer winters with reduced snow cover increased food availability and hence the capacity to make it through the winter months. However, since 1997 things have Watch Alfred’s misadventures in video ISLAMABAD, Pakistan changed: despite winters still had little snowfalls, censuses show that the www.highsummit.org Snow, ice and debris from glacier tops: samplings ibex population dropped to slightly less than 3,000 specimens in the who- will allow scientists to collect invaluable infor- le protected area, and the o spring survival rate was halved. According to mation, in some cases very recent data, on high several recent studies – including one by Antonello Provenzale et. al. – the Find out what you don’t know about altitude bacteria. This is part of the project that re- causes of this phenomenon could be linked to climate change. A scienti c climate and mountain with Mario Tozzi searchers of the EvK2Cnr carried out last summer hypothesis attributes this to the early  owering and modi cation of the and the interviews with the EvK2Cnr on the Gasherbrum I, an eight-thousander in the mountain  ora caused by higher temperatures and the early melting of researchers Karakorum range. snow. When the females give birth to the o spring in June and July, they may face a shortage of the plants they require to produce highly nutri- tional milk. Consequently the o spring could grow weaker and badly prepared to endure the upcoming winter. Another possible cause is connected to the winter survival of parasites and their larvae due to milder temperatu- res, which would expose the ibex o spring to a higher parasite load. (V.U) Page 8 October 2013 October 2013 Page 9 SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACTS ENVIRONMENT AND FUTURE High Summit towards COP19 Global warming and high altitute Climate, mountain and carbon credit A coalition to mitigate An expert explains the e ect of pollutants tefania Proietti, who will The mountain on he “Climate and Clean Air Their reduction, through the An economic matter. Coalition” (CCAC) was esta- shared adoption of speci c po- chair the High Summit T S blished within the framework of licies, would result in signi cant session devoted to the the United Nations Environment progress in contrasting global emission market, teaches the Warsaw agenda by BEATRICE CASINI Program (Unep) in February 2012 warming and improving air qua- byHere VALENTINA D’ANGELLA is the reason why at the University of Perugia, and today, with more than 50 lity in a relatively short time. The Department of Industrial partners including governments main objective of the Ccac is Engineering, and works as and NGOs, it is the greatest orga- exactly to raise awareness of the a researcher in association nization in the world to promote environmental and economic with EvK2Cnr, specializing and coordinate the actions plans damage caused by this type of in carbon trading. aimed at mitigating the e ects of pollutants, as well as to promote short lived pollutants. cooperation, scienti c research How does climate change a ect economy? The latter include black carbon and new mitigation strategies. In First of all, by acting on resources. famines and droughts. Economy (the heavy layer of particulate March 2013, the EvK2Cnr Com- Once our resources are depleted, will undoubtedly be a ected by matter made of carbon and soot mittee was o cially accredited it will be necessary to nd some all this. su ocating many areas of the as a coalition partner for the more elsewhere. On the other Something we can already see is planet, especially in Asia), me- high level of its research activi- hand, climate change determi- the increase in the frequency of thane and some  uorinated ga- ties concerning black carbon and nes the exacerbation of certain catastrophic events in densely ses (Hfc). Although they remain other short lived pollutants in phenomena, which we will even- populated areas. Hurricanes, for in the atmosphere for a limited mountain regions: the data provi- tually have to face. According to example, are getting increasingly amount of time (ranging from ded by EvK2Cnr, rst of all in con- the data of the Ipcc fourth report common and the damage they (now outdated), in 100 years, be- cause inevitably weighs upon a few days to some years), not nection to the Share project, con- cause of climate change, there GDP. If you consider that, presen- only do these pollutants worsen tribute to the understanding of will be 250 million environmental tly, more than 70% of the world climate change (they increase their impact and their transport, Alps, Laghi Gemelli Dam (Photo: V.D.A) refugees, who will be moving in population resides in metropoli- global warming, in uence atmo- especially in mountain areas. huge numbers, pushed by the sea tan areas, the risk is even greater. spheric circulation and the mel- Their continuous monitoring ma- hose who think climate chan- people with starvation, we should has serious implications for human level rise, temperature increase, ting of snow and glaciers), they kes it possible to elaborate scien- ge is an issue which has not forget that natural resources health and, in turn, for economies. are also responsible for the loss of ti cally accurate strategies to T What do mountains have to do with all this? nothing to do with their pockets represent our food and the mate- According to data produced by the tons of agricultural crops and for mitigate their e ects, in line with are deluding themselves to say the rials we need for all our activities. Project Surya, air pollution, espe- Mountains are the bellwether of a lower percentage. Mountain the incidence of cardiorespirato- the programmatic goals of Ccac. climate change. Once occurred areas per se do not in uence cli- least. There is indeed a very close Many of these resources can be na- cially indoor, considerably redu- ry pathologies causing more than (E.B) in urban areas, climate change mate change, because they are 2.5 million deaths every year. correlation between climate and turally found in the mountains, but ces attendance and productivity in has repercussions on the whole inhabited by few people, who economy, at a global level. The they can be exploited even in very schools and workplaces. In India world. Mountains are signi can- tend to preserve the environment famous economist Nicolas Sterne distant areas, if for no other rea- approximately 1.2-1.6 trillion wor- tly a ected by these repercus- where they live. Mountain areas, was among the fi rst to support this son than the fact that high altitude king days are estimated to be lost sions: su ce it to say that the however, have water resources retreat of glaciers deeply a ects which are essential both in terms correlation in 2006. Appointed by regions are much less populated due to the respiratory diseases cau- faraway places, as it is shown by of energy and supplies of drin- the British Government, he publi- and industrialized when compared sed by indoor air pollution. From undisputable scienti c data. Just king water: the Himalayan region shed an astonishing report. Sterne to urban areas. Let’s consider, for the individual point of view, this a few days ago Ipcc produced alone provides approximately 2 asserted that contending with cli- example, water resources: hydro- corresponds to a considerable sala- the Working 1 papers, a rst step billion people with water. Thou- mate change today would imply an electric power plants depend di- ry reduction which weighs heavily towards the publication of the gh connected to lower incomes, investment accounting for 1% of rectly on the melting of snow and upon household budgets, quality next framework report, which mountain economy and climate will contain much more alarming change are extremely important. GDP, at global level, whereas a po- glaciers. The reduction in surface of life and even schooling. data than those contained in the The carbon credits established by Nuptse and Everest (Photo: EvK2Cnr archive) licy of “just sit and watch” would water fl ows and the decrease in These are but a few examples 2006 document. The current re- the Kyoto Protocol can have a si- mean spending from 5 to 20% of precipitations have consequences of how global warming infl uen- port says 95% of climate change gni cant impact here, as they can call to the World’s powers At the side event, Asian mountains, including Hi- global GDP in the future. At the is due to anthropogenic causes, economically reward those who on the fi lling of dams, with reper- ces people’s spending habits, but by the international scientifi c EvK2Cnr will present malaya, of the southern Andes, time of publication, the fi gures see- while the previous one indicated pollute less. cussions on energy production. they are enough to explain how, Acommunity to support a greater and distribute the do- Alaska, Canadian Arctic and part med to be an exaggeration, though But there is more to it. Drought and at a certain point, climate chan- How can the emission market be relevant to mountain areas? focus towards mountains and their cument that will be of Greenland are listed amongst at present they could be considered temperature increase constitute the ge entered abruptly on the global ecosystems. This is the target set approved on the 25th those which have lost most of the as an optimistic estimate. most serious threats to agricultural economic agenda, with particular Projects involving a better use of lations living in the mountains by High Summit 2013 to be pre- October at the end of ice cover in the last decade: the- The connection, if you think about water resources for the Himala- and preserving the local habitat crops. “With the increase in tempe- reference to the carbon emission sented at the next United Nations High Summit 2013. se areas make up for more than it, is clear. On the one hand, clima- yan region or reforestation in a with the adoption of sustainable ratures,” says Martin Beniston, the market. This is one of the fl exible conference on climate change, “We are gathering re- 80% of the lost glacial mass. The te change triggers environmental deforested area in Africa reduce agriculture practices, traditional Swiss climatologist who has focu- strategies devised by the Kyoto CO2 emissions, therefore they farming techniques and the re- through the submission of a docu- commendations from document we are about to prepa- disasters that we have to face, as sed on this topic with the European Protocol to mitigate climate chan- can be rewarded with carbon forestation of speci c areas can ment undersigned by all the Lecco the various Chairs of re therefore aims at increasing the they are directly linked to our very project ACQWA, “the water con- ge, a mechanism determining a credits, which correspond to the actually earn credits. Such cre- conference attendees, and to be the High Summit ses- attention on mountains worldwi- survival; on the other hand, climate sumption due to evapotranspira- limit for carbon emissions and the amount of tons of emissions that dits can be sold to less virtuous presented at the side event “Cryo- sions, and we will ask de, fi rst and foremost by addres- change jeopardizes the natural re- tion increases, with a potential de- principle according to which those were not created thanks to these subject, thus becoming an impor- initiatives. How can they be rela- tant resource for the poorest are- sphere, climatic changes and de- the attending scientists sing development and integration sources which sustain our world. If mand for further irrigation aimed who are virtuous and produce less ted to the mountain? By devising as of the world. velopment: risks and solutions”, to sign it in order to of scientifi c research, considering fl oods, famines and hydro-geologi- at getting optimal output (+10% in emissions deserve an incentive, a mechanism whereby the popu- (V.D.A) organized by ICCI (International bring the focus of the that these regions represent an in- cal disasters can sweep away entire July on the Swiss Alps from now whereas those who pollute more Cryosphere Climate Initiative) in international commu- valuable resource which is too of- villages and threaten thousands of to 2049).” Atmospheric pollution will have to pay accordingly. cooperation with the EvK2Cnr nity onto the safeguard ten threatened by humans and their committee and the Clean Air Task of the planet and particularly of activities”, concludes Bonasoni. Force on 16th November. the mountains, which are sources The side event will examine in Warsaw will be a key date for of life, water and biodiversity”, depth the required mitigation stra- Emission market our planet’s climate. On 11th No- says Paolo Bonasoni (researcher tegies in order to slow down global vember, the annual Conference of at the Isac-Cnr) who is drafting warming in mountainous areas: in- The case study parties (COP19) of the signatory the manuscript together with Elisa tegrated measure concerning CO2 and carbon credits Olive groves in the Italian region of Umbria are like carbon he emission market is a mecha- of CO2). The European Emissions o set”. In Italy, according to the data Countries to the Convention fra- Vuillermoz (coordinator of the re- emissions and atmospheric pollu- stocks. Though this plant involves CO2 emissions while nism creating a speci c limit to Trading System (EU ETS) is currently of the Ministry of Environment, the mework of the United Nations on search projects of EvK2Cnr, who tion based on new models suppor- T being cultivated, during its growth it absorbs more carbon carbon emissions, whereby those the greatest global market for car- voluntary carbon credit market has climate change will kick off. As in organized the Lecco summit) and ted by the World Bank. Ministers who are more virtuous and pollute bon credits: in 2011 it reached 8.33 reached an amount of 244,000 tons than what is produced during the industrial production other meetings, the policies of gre- the members of the conference of Countries negatively affected less deserve an incentive, measu- trillion tons of CO2, corresponding to of CO2, compared to 34,600 tons in cycle. This can generate credits, which can be quanti ed red in credits. Those who pollute 76 trillion Euros. 2009. Currently there is no real car- and sold, creating an income, to the bene t of those who enhouse gas reduction will be at scientifi c committee. by climatic changes will attend the more, have to pay more accordingly. Besides the national and interna- bon credit market which is speci c protect their ecosystem and their territory. the core of this nineteenth edition “The IPCC puts focus on event, together with representati- Credits have an economic value tional markets which are regulated to mountain areas. Such a theme of the summit. Meanwhile, the me- mountains and their glaciers, as hi- ves of UNEP and the World Bank, and there is even a stock exchange by speci c institutions, there are could be developed in the future eting of the Kyoto Protocol signa- ghlighted in the Technical Summa- researchers from the Joint Rese- of carbon credits, with operators “voluntary” markets, allowing and be closely linked to activities tory countries will also take place, ry WGI Fifth Assessment Report arch Centre, NASA, Hadley Cen- carrying out nancial transactions subjects to voluntarily compen- such as reforestation and sustainable through the exchange of credits sate their emissions, by means of agriculture. having being extended to 2020 at (TS.2.5.4)”, continues Bonasoni, tre for climate change, Reading (each of them representing a ton a mechanism known as “carbon last year’s COP18 in Doha, Qatar. “and it also states how glaciers in University. Page 10 October 2013 October 2013 Page 11 LECCO EVENTS LECCO ALPINE TOWN OF THE YEAR

Mountain voices HIGH SUMMIT From selective waste collection to walking buses Inauguration night on 22nd October Climbers and scientists make a with the lms of the “Ragni di Lecco” Vittorio Campione introduces the Alpine Town of Lecco th he lm “In nite Jest” by the “Ra- to 2011 three extremely di cult Tgni di Lecco” mountaineering new routes were opened. The panel was certainly infl uen- already been implemented for actions are related to mobility and concerning mountains and climate splash at the theater on 24 October club will o cially lead o the dan- “Wenden is like a temple of beauty ced by our climbing tradition, our environmental sustainability traffi c regulations. A bike sharing change, combining the award Mauro Corona together with Mondinelli, Bernasconi, Panzeri and Da Polenza are on ces of the High Summit, the event and di culty for climbers,” says Fa- love of mountains, and also by within the framework of the project was launched one and a we obtained with a more global devoted to mountains and climate bio Palma, President of the “Ragni stage together with the High Summit luminaries. Presented by Omar Fantini our projects aimed at the safe- award? half years ago, with fi ve stations concern over such issues. We have by EMANUELE BRIGNOLI change that will take place in Lec- di Lecco” mountaineering club. “It co at the end of October, organized demands a lot from the ngertips guard of the territory, especially We have created a series of routes where people can get a bike for an made our infrastructure availa- by the EvK2Cnr Committee. The and the mind of those who are not our selective waste collection. Le- to make the most of our water annual membership of 20 Euros. ble and we have created syner- appointment is for Tuesday 22nd content just with looking at it.” auro Corona on one side. international renown, such as An- ders of the cultural and folkloristic gambiente has designated Lecco resources, starting from Water We are currently improving it gies with local associations and October at 9 p.m. at the Chamber of The event will be enlivened by the as “comune riciclone” (recycling Houses, where everybody can get by creating a new station and by other stakeholders. The program The glaciologist Claudio tonello Provenzale, Claudio Smi- heritage of our mountain areas. Commerce Auditorium, where th- presence of the pianist Simone M municipality) and, two years ago, still or sparkling water. Four in- introducing electrical bikes that connected to the High Summit Smiraglia, the medical doctor An- raglia and Annalisa Cogo, lead Proud and stubborn, Corona loves ree videos produced by the Ragni di Morandotti and the guitarist Mike nalisa Cogo and the climatologist speakers at the “High Summit” and defends this traditional aspect Lecco Group will also be projected. Guzzo. Vico Valassi, President of the they even awarded our town with stallations are already in place and will certainly help overcome the is full of initiatives, launched in Antonello Provenzale on the other. International Conference (23rd to of the mountain, characterized by The lm “In nite Jest”, made in co- Chamber of Commerce of Lecco, the title of “Best District Town they have supplied more than 600 steepest slopes. As for the future, cooperation with the Municipality, the knowledge of operation with Flying Film Produc- will do the honors together with in Lombardy” for selective waste thousand liters in a few months. we are soon going to implement a and involving not just experts, but tion, is based on the climbings of Agostino Da Polenza, President of eing awarded the title collection. Even Coreve recogni- We are installing two more Water car sharing project. the general public. As provided generations of old Matteo Della Bordella and Fabio Pal- EvK2CNR, the organizing commit- of ‘Alpine Town of the zed the achievements of our town Houses in order to cover the who- How is the town getting ready for by the Alpine Convention, the school climbers ma on the natural calcareous set of tee of the High Summit. “B who sweated and the Swiss Wenden, where from 2005 Year’ 2013 was not just an arrival (which received a prize shared le territory. The project proved for the High Summit? aim of the program is also to raise toiled on slopes point for us. It rather encouraged with Prato and Brindisi) for the very successful: it is so simple, The Summit represents the hi- people’s awareness in connection and rises. “Breathing Himalaya” on display us to keep walking the path of high quality of its separate collec- yet it had such a positive infl uen- ghlight of the ‘Alpine Town of the to the safeguard of the territory These two worlds, environmental sustainability,” tion of glass. ce on waste production and the Year’ program, since it draws the and to the environmental best in Lecco on the occasion of the High Summit (A.M) which also differ explains Vittorio Campione, 45 What are the actions that have pollution caused by traffi c. Other attention to our town and to issues practices. from the point of years old, Deputy Mayor and view of time, will Councilor for Transport and be facing each Environment in Lecco. There other on stage, are many current projects aimed each one with its at making the town “greener”, Mauro Corona Agostino Da Polenza Climber, writer and sculptor EvK2Cnr President values and its li- ranging from walking buses to mits. Omar Fantini, selective waste collection, not to famous TV come- mention bike and car sharing pro- dian and presenter, grams. “High Summit,” continues will be the host and Mr. Campione, “the international moderator of the event focusing on mountains and event. climate change, taking place in Tales and music will our town at the end of October, meld together, to ir, pollution, high altitude and results in numerous respiratory or is just the highlight of so many cardiovascular pathologies. further liven up the Apathologies of the respiratory initiatives.” tract. This is the subject of the Exhi- The project, coordinated by Dr. Daniele Bernasconi Silvio Mondinelli Mario Panzeri night. Sulutumana, Mr. Campione, what are the Climber and alpine guide, Climber and alpine guide Climber and alpine guide bition “Breathing Himalaya: Impa- Annalisa Cogo (Ferrara University), Ragni di Lecco a pop-folk band riamo a Respirare” (let’s learn how focused speci cally on the collec- projects that earned Lecco from Lombardy, to breathe), a journey through pic- tion of data related to the impact the ‘Alpine Town of the Year’ infl uenced by folk tures and other media, between na- of pathologies of the respiratory award? Agostino Da Polenza acting as a 25th October). The experience of music as well as by the songwri- ture and science, set in Palazzo delle tract, such as Chronic Obstructive First of all, the walking bus Paure, in Piazza Cermenati, from 3rd Pulmonary Disease (COPD), which Agostino Da Polenza (climber and ting tradition, will also be present. project. When it was launched in mediator, and Silvio Mondinelli, to 25th October. increasingly a ects our urban en- Lecco, in 2002, it was amongst Daniele Bernasconi, Mario Panze- President of the EvK2Cnr organi- All these different faces and voices An almost unknown aspect of Hima- vironments, being the fth leading ri contributing with their testimo- zation) will be the “bridge” betwe- have a common denominator: the laya, a remote and pristine region cause of death in the world. the fi rst experiences in Italy, and nies. Mountaineering and science en the two worlds. same passion for mountains and a according to popular belief, emer- The synergy between EvK2Cnr has today achieved signifi cant re- meet in Lecco on Thursday 24th Mauro Corona (sculptor, writer concern for the changes they are ges at the end of the journey. Such and Interactivecom resulted in this sults: 700 children, 28 lines, 230 an idea is, in fact, inaccurate and exhibition, an educational initiative October. Sweat and knowledge get and climber with a discordant going to face. The Yeti Alfred K. adult leaders, with a considerable within the framework of the Share aimed at disseminating the inva- reduction of traffi c and pollution. together for this not-to-be-missed voice) will be the representati- Everest, testimonial and mascot project, the EvK2Cnr Committee is luable information made available show, which will be presented by ve of a more traditional image of of the High Summit, will also be monitoring the environmental si- both in the Himalayan region and Zelig comedian Omar Fantini, and mountains, made of wood and sto- there to remind us of the current tuation at the foot of Mount Everest, in Italy, thus favoring the spread of which is aimed at talking about ne. Erto’s mountains have inspired climate changes, an issue which and unexpectedly detecting signi - prevention strategies. The exhibi- A multimedia Pyramid in Piazza Cermenati mountains and discussing their is- his life and works, making him is going to be the leitmotif of the cant levels of pollutants. The exhi- tion is sponsored by the Province bition casts light upon the medical of Milan, Ferrara University, Assintel, I support High Summit: Luca Argentero, Antonio Rossi, Daniele Bernasconi and other VIPs commit themselves to the mountain cause sues, taking advantage of the close one of the most strenuous defen- international conference. and environmental research activi- Boehringer Ingelheim Italia and P - link between those who live the ties currently ongoing in the area, zer Italia. hat does the Pyramid Labo- Mondinelli and Daniele Bernasco- experience of the mountain and for aimed at investigating upon the Visiting hours at the Palazzo delle those who study it. 24 October from 18 to 21 issue of the indoor pollution produ- Paure are Tuesday to Friday from 3 Wratory-Observatory of the ni, actor Luca Argentero, come- Mountain voices will let these se- ced by the use of biomasses (wood, to 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday EvK2Cnr Committee, located at dian Omar Fantini (who will pre- dung, harvest residues) burnt inside from 2 to 8 p.m. Admission is free. emingly different aspects of the the foot of Mount Everest, look sent the 24th October night event the houses, in open braziers, often To learn more: like? From 3rd to 25th October together with Mauro Corona) and mountain talk together, involving www.breathinghimalaya.org HAPPY HOUR in the absence of chimneys, for he- you will be able to see a reproduc- other scholars and climbers. leading personalities from both ating and cooking purposes. This worlds. Mario Panzeri and Silvio IN THE TOWN CENTER tion of it in Lecco, in Piazza Cer- Visible from the lakeside and loca- Mondinelli (both of whom have menati. It is the EvK2Cnr-Cobat ted in one of the town’s strategic climbed all the 14 eight-thousan- Come and taste the fl avor of the mountains of the multimedia pyramid: an aluminum points, the Pyramid will be offi - world, while walking between the town center and and Plexiglas structure, more than cially inaugurated on 3rd October ders without oxygen) and Daniele RESTAURANTS PARTICIPATING IN THE INITIATIVE the Lecco lakeside! On Thursday 24th October, three meters high. The walls will and will help introduce citizens Bernasconi (member of the “Ra- Alpino Happy Hour: High Summit invites citizens to a very special be equipped with interactive scre- and tourists to issues related to gni di Lecco” mountaineering happy hour completely devoted to mountains. Bar Cermenati, Bar Plaza, Frigerio, ens providing information related mountains and climate change. club and pioneer of many historic From 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., for the special price of Ristorante Azzeccagarbugli, Bar Manzoni, 1 euro, in the cafes and restaurants of the town to the ongoing events and to the The installation of the Pyramid ascents including Gasherbrum II’s Il Labirinto, Interval Cafè North Face) will be the professio- center you will be able to taste specialties from the topics which are the focus of the is sponsored by Cobat (Consor- Andes, Alps and Himalayas, ranging from pizzoccheri High Summit. The monitors will tium for the recovery of batteries, nal climbers on stage at the Tea- Himalayano Happy Hour: to basmati rice, all of them accompanied by something to drink. You be broadcasting videos concerning electrical waste and photovoltaic tro della Società in Lecco. On the will only have to get a voucher from the High Summit info-point lo- Caffè Commercio, Sunfl owers, Bar Crystal mountains and climate change, as modules), which only last month mountain they have risked their cated in piazza XX Settembre and go to one of the places participating well as the adventures of the Yeti carried out a mission in Nepal, in lives, yet at the same time, almost in the event. A dj-set will provide the music background. Andino Happy Hour: paradoxically, they have built their Watch out: 100 lucky ones will enjoy a free tasting by subscribing to Alfred K. Everest, enrichment vi- cooperation with EvK2Cnr, aimed www.montagna.tv Osteria Ai Granai, Il caffè, Caffè Teatro future. the newsletter on the webpage! deo reports by scientists and clips at replacing batteries and photo- by unexpected testimonials, such voltaic modules supplying energy Those who study mountains will The Mayor of Lecco Virginio Brivio inaugurates the multimedia Pyramid EvK2Cnr-Cobat be represented by researchers of as well-known climbers Silvio to the Everest Laboratory. (V.U) Page 12 October 2013 HIGH SUMMIT AND LECCO Municipality, Chamber of Commerce, Polytechnic Roped together in Lecco for the mountain

ountains are an essential part of Lecco’s identity: Ma piece of DNA, a fundamental component of the economic fa- bric, a portion of the territory to be studied and promoted. EvK2Cnr and its partners in the organiza- tion of the High Summit strongly advocate this concept. “We real- ly believe in this event and we want the award we received as Alpine Town of the Year 2013 to hold together these two aspects: experience the mountain and, at the same time, get from it useful teachings for everyday life,” ex- plains the Mayor, Virginio Brivio. As far as the new experience of the mountain is concerned, the Municipality is very active and is reconsidering the way mountains can be enjoyed. “The relationship with the mountain,” continues Mr. Brivio, “needs to be less greedy, compared to the last few deca- des. We are recovering tracks and trails together with local associa- tions and we intend to make shel- tions will have the opportunity to well as the potential for research ters available not just to experts, work.” Apart from being a place and innovation, the Chamber of An App to promote the Lecco mountains but also to families.”As for more for research and recreation, Lecco Commerce is working together The Lecco mountains go digital: at last it is possible to access infor- mation on mountain huts, walking trails as well as sites and sights scholarly activities concerning mountains are characterized by a with the Municipality and the robust economic fabric, made up Polytechnic to launch the project such as adventure parks, caves and mines in the Lecco Alps directly mountains, researchers and scien- from your smartphone. On the occasion of High Summit, the City’s of a variety of companies manu- “Eco-Smart Land”, a “local labo- tists from Milan Polytechnic are Chamber of Commerce – in cooperation with Telecom and the local working on several projects focu- facturing high quality products ratory for the creation of an inte- tourist and business companies – has developed an App to promo- sed – for example – on the impact that make Lecco famous around grated system aimed at offering te the excellence of the area, with a section also dedicated to the of climate change on high altitude the world,” says the President of eco-tourism and cultural opportu- mountaineering tradition containing information on this sport and the “Ragni” mountaineering club. A preview of the fi rst version of water resources as well as its ef- the Chamber of Commerce of nities which are also environmen- Lecco, Mr. Vico Valassi. To pro- tally friendly,” concludes Mr. Va- the App – developed as part of the “Eco-Smart Land” project – will fect on those available downstre- be made available to the subscribers of the international conference. am. “The areas being currently mote the environmental resources, lassi, ready to present the project studied include the Alps, Himala- the beauty of the landscape, as at the High Summit. (V.U) ya and the Andes,” says the Pro- Chancellor of the Lecco Univer- Organizing Committee sity Campus, Marco Bocciolone. “These regions are profoundly affected by climate variables.” The current studies have created a starting point for future work aimed at suggesting possible ap- Patronages Cooperating organization In collaboration with proaches to the management of with contribution climate change and its infl uence on the hydrological cycle, as well as on food and water safety in the most densely populated areas Città Alpina 2013 downstream. “The fact that events like the High Summit are organi- Patronages zed in Italy is proof enough of Ministero the existence of a lively scientifi c Sotto l’Alto PatronatoCittà Alpina 2013 Istruzione community that has much to say del Presidente Università and share,” adds Prof. Bocciolo- della Repubblica Ricerca ne. “The High Summit will take place in the new campus of Milan Polytechnic in Lecco. Opening the campus to events of such in- ternational signifi cance makes it UNEP possible for the Polytechnic to act as a catalyst and a disseminator of knowledge, a role the Polytechnic Frameworks is supposed to have in the areas where its premises are located. In order to create a research center of excellence, which is internatio- nal and operates to the benefi t of Sponsors the region and local companies, a building hosting Cnr laboratories will be created, where scientifi c INFRASTRUTTURA DI ALTA TECNOLOGIA PER teams affi liated to both institu- IL MONITORAGGIO INTEGRATO CLIMATICO-AMBIENTALE