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According to research published in the journal Earth’s Future. glaciers are set to vanish from almost half of U.N.-designated World Heritage sites in less than a century if greenhouse gas emissions are not cut.
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Sites likely to be affected include the Grosser Aletschgletscher in the Swiss Alps and Greenland’s Jakobshavn Isbrae.
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Wake-up call:(1) IUCN said that data should act as a wake-up call for nations to step up their commitments to prevent climate change.(2) Losing these iconic glaciers would be a tragedy and have major consequences for the availability of water resources, sea level rise and weather patterns.
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Risks for World Heritage sites:(1) Researchers plotted glaciers at World Heritage locations identifying a total of some 19,000 over 46 sites.(2) Nearly half the World Heritage sites ”” 21 out of a total of 46 that have glaciers ”” will lose all their ice by 2100 under a high emissions scenario.(3) Some of the well-known beauty spots include:
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Los Glaciares National Park in Argentina.
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The Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks.
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Te Wahipounamu in South West New Zealand.
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Falling volume:(1) The research found significant melting is expected in all scenarios, with between 33% and 60% of the total ice volume in 2017 lost by 2100.(2) The findings should highlight the threat posed by global warming.
Source
The hindu.