Climate activists hold event to mark vanishing Swiss glacier

SUMMARY

Hundreds of climate activists paid their respects to a Swiss glacier on Sunday that is due to disappear over the next decade, the victim of a warming environment. The Pizol glacier, now at less than a tenth of a square km, in the Glarus Alps in eastern Switzerland has been retreating as temperatures climb. Located about 2,600 metres (8530 ft) above sea level, the glacier is due to vanish completely by 2030.

By ReutersSept 23, 2019 3:18:22 PM IST (Published)

Hundreds of climate activists paid their respects to a Swiss glacier on Sunday that is due to disappear over the next decade, the victim of a warming environment. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

The Pizol glacier, now at less than a tenth of a square km, in the Glarus Alps in eastern Switzerland has been retreating as temperatures climb. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

Located about 2,600 metres (8530 ft) above sea level, the glacier is due to vanish completely by 2030. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

At roughly 0.06 square km (0.02 square miles), the glacier is just a fraction of its area in 1987 when scientists recorded it at 0.32 square km. Just four years ago, its area was put at 0.1 square km, according to the Global Glacier Change Bulletin. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

The gathering in Switzerland, which has about 1,500 glaciers, mirrors an action in August when activists and others in Iceland commemorated a melted glacier there. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

Matthias Huss, a glaciologist at the ETH Zurich and head of the glacier monitoring network Glamos, speaks during a mourning ceremony as awareness to climate change, for the disappearing Pizol glacier, in Mels, Switzerland. In Switzerland, climate change activism has been rising, including action this year in which dozens of people were arrested after blocking entrances to Swiss banks some people blame for their role in financing energy projects that are reliant on fossil fuels. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

The country, famous for its direct democracy, may soon vote ongoing climate neutral, after organisers of a petition drive called "the Glacier Initiative" collected 120,000 signatures needed to put the measure on the ballot. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

People take part in a mourning ceremony as awareness to climate change, for the disappearing Pizol glacier, in Mels. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

People take part in a mourning ceremony as awareness to climate change, for the disappearing Pizol glacier, in Mels. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

People look at the Pizol glacier as they take part in a mourning ceremony as awareness to climate change, Switzerland. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse