It will disappear. If nothing is done, in about twenty years the Marmolada ice will no longer exist. When we talk about glaciers, their importance is often overlooked. They are necessary for everyday life, they play the role of thermoregulators for the environment, they also serve the economy. Just remember the drought, the lack of water sources or hydroelectric power plants to understand the importance of these natural resources. At the foot of the Marmolada, on Lake Fedaia, Enel manages one of the oldest power plants. They are forces of nature, glaciers, to be protected and by now we can no longer pretend not to know it.
The fate of the most famous Italian glacier has been the subject of much debate for some time now. studies and research and every year the Climbing for Climate enriches the panorama of those who fight against climate change. It is promoted by the Italian Glaciological Committee, Legambiente, the Museum of Geography of Padua and Italian universities. The agony of the Marmolada concerns millions of people, a little less politics. Those who want to take the matter seriously have the opportunity to do so, especially now that the promoters of Climbing have launched the Manifesto "Another Marmolada". The glacier has shortened and should be left even more in peace. The main value of this document lies in the response to forms of mass tourism in one of the most fascinating places in Italy. Volunteers along the paths collect waste and residues of all kinds that reveal themselves as the uncomfortable face of people's curiosity.
Marmolada, the participatory environmental campaigns
A climate event worthy of being stopped is taking place on those mountains. What must be done to no longer see that uncomfortable face? We need mitigation policies, but above all "an effective national adaptation plan to the climate crisis, starting from the most vulnerable areas, such as the high mountains", says Legambiente. And everyone else agrees. Italy is tropicalize with all the consequences that this entails on a social level. The participatory glaciological campaigns are the result of ideas and projects from that part of Italy – and not only – that thinks and behaves in a way opposite to those who ascend glaciers regardless of the damage caused by mass tourism. Then it turns out that among the participants in this year's Climbing, there was also a university rector to bear witness to the existing risk. Dino Mastrocola, rector in Teramo has climbed to 3 meters above sea level to connect the fate of the Marmolada to the death of the Calderone glacier on Gran Sasso. A preview of what can happen to the Marmolada.
“The Gran Sasso glacier is now reduced to the state that technicians call glacier-snow-covered,” explains Mastrocola. “According to the findings of the University of Padua,” he continues, “the melting process of the glacier continues to accelerate, setting new records. The findings on the lowering of the glacier surface indicate that the remaining life of the glacier is estimated between 13 and 22 years”. A loss of biodiversity and natural balance that the most defenseless country in Europe cannot tolerate. For this simple reason, the way in which the institutions will take charge of this emergency will indicate the level of sensitivity reached in Italy on the issue of climate change. Let's hope it's tall.
