Switzerland and Italy redraw Alpine border as glaciers melt

Alpine glaciers historically delineated the border between Switzerland and Italy. Their melting, caused by the rise in average temperatures, has necessitated a change in these agreements.

Glaciers in Europe, the fastest-warming continent in the world, are retreating at an accelerated pace due to the climate crisis caused by human activity. Large sections of the Swiss-Italian border have historically been defined by glacier ridges or areas of eternal snow. The melting has shifted these natural borders, prompting both countries to adjust the boundaries.

Switzerland officially approved the agreement on changes on 27th September, though Italy has not yet done the same. The agreement was developed by the joint Swiss-Italian commission in May 2023. According to the Bloomberg news agency, the new borders were established in line with the economic interests of both countries.

The change concerns, among other things, the famous ski resort Zermatt. Italy and Switzerland agreed to delineate the border around landmark points, including Testa Grigia, Plateau Rosa, Rifugio Carrel, and Gobba di Rollin. All these landmarks are located near the Matterhorn summit. Clarifying the borders in the new climatic realities is also intended to help both countries determine which is responsible for maintaining specific natural areas.

Statistics published in September last year showed that Switzerland's glaciers lost 4% of their volume in 2023, the second-largest loss in history after the record melting in 2022, which reached 6%. Experts have stopped measuring ice on some of Switzerland's glaciers because there is no longer any ice there. Italian experts stated this month that the Marmolada glacier, the largest and most symbolic glacier in the Dolomites, could completely melt by 2040 due to the rise in average temperatures.