The warmer temperatures recorded in recent years are changing weather patterns and upsetting natural balances, which entails many risks for human beings and all other forms of life on Earth.

Impacts on the water resource

The effects of climate change predicted for the thermo-rainfall regime will modify the availability of water resources, in particular altering the extent and seasonality of outflows into surface watercourses. A different and careful planning of the management of the water resource will therefore be necessary, the deficit of which could be greater particularly in summer, in conjunction with the greater competition between the different uses: drinking use linked to the increasing population due to the flows tourism, the accumulation of water in reservoirs intended for the production of hydroelectric energy, the greater irrigation requirement for agriculture. The study carried out on the Noce river and Brenta river basins as part of the OrientGate project (Autonomous Province of Trento, 2014) to evaluate the combined effect of future climate changes and hydroelectric exploitation on water availability has highlighted some important trends . In the future scenarios taken into consideration, for the period 2021-2050 a slight average annual decrease in the derivable volumes is expected in both basins, with marked differences at a seasonal level and different behaviors between the high altitude streams and the watercourses of the terminal areas of the basins examined. In the medium term, the most problematic season appears most likely to be summer, especially for basins located at lower altitudes, with even significant reductions, while in winter probable increases in derivable volumes are expected. Variations on a seasonal basis and by type of hydrological regime can also be observed on the minimum flow regimes. In winter the probable greater water availability will lead to an increase in the number of days in which flows exceeding the minimum vital flow¹0 (DMV) will be recorded, as is also expected in spring for the basins at the highest altitudes in Val di Sole. Instead in summer and in spring, in the basins located at lower altitudes and for those of the Brenta River, a decrease in the number of days in which the flow in the riverbed is higher than the DMV is expected, with the consequent prolongation of the low water periods and the lower hydrological sustainability of the current DMV.

Impacts on inland water ecosystems

Inland water ecosystems are important reservoirs of biodiversity, whose ecological status is subject to significant anthropogenic pressures that cause the loss of biological components and habitats and a general decline in natural conditions. Climate change therefore acts on ecosystems that are already partly compromised and characterised by high vulnerability and can amplify effects such as loss of species and ecosystem services, biological invasions and deterioration of water quality also associated with the release of past pollutants as glaciers melt.

Impacts on terrestrial ecosystems and plant biodiversity

The Alpine areas are among the areas at high risk of biodiversity loss and to date have suffered very evident impacts. Indeed, climate change impacts the physiology, life cycle, disease resistance and geographical distribution of species, the composition of terrestrial ecological communities and interspecific interactions. Even in Trentino it is conceivable that some effects will accelerate in the coming decades such as: the raising of the tree line and changes in the composition of the forests; variations in the structure, distribution and productivity of different habitats, with consequences on both vertebrate and invertebrate fauna, on the soil and above ground, on the structure of communities, on the distribution of populations, on genetic diversity, on behaviour, on reproduction and on the intestinal flora; the modification of phenological cycles, with the anticipation of the flowering of many plants and the premature restart of the vegetative period; the rise in altitude of plant species which, being more suited to cold climates, tend to find themselves in habitats that are no longer optimal, facing a decline in population or even extinction; the greater spread of plant diseases due to the state of water or thermal stress in which forest plants find themselves following extreme weather events; the spread of alien and invasive species.

Impacts on fauna

Numerous effects have been observed on Alpine fauna. The periods of activity and reproduction (as well as the reproductive success) of many species of birds, amphibians and arthropods have changed. For example, it is now common to anticipate the arrivals of many species of migratory birds, the reproduction of many amphibians and the development of the adult stage of many insects, with particular reference to pollinators. The distribution areas or local density (of mammals, birds and arthropods) have changed. Several mountain animal species have moved to higher altitudes with consequent reduction and fragmentation of their preferred range, and changes in the distribution of populations and genetic diversity (with impacts on their adaptive capacity and ability to fight pathogens). Local extinctions of some insects and drastic reductions in populations have been demonstrated. Morphological changes are also observed: in body weight, fertility, etc. An increase in new invasive alien species, including parasites and pathogens, is observed, contributing to an increased risk of extinction of populations and native species. Furthermore, the structure of habitats changes, just as the availability and availability of food changes, influencing population dynamics.

Climate adaptation is a strategic response to ongoing climate change, aimed at limiting its detrimental effects and capitalizing on any opportunities. Central to this approach is resilience, which is the ability of a system-whether a natural ecosystem, a human community or a business organization-to withstand, adapt to and recover from stressful events such as floods, droughts or extreme temperatures. Climate adaptation can take many forms: from introducing more sustainable agricultural practices to creating climate-resilient infrastructure to reformulating business models to account for the impacts of climate change.

In a global context that is increasingly sensitive to environmental issues, the climate adaptation-risk reduction pair is a key pillar of business and non-business sustainability strategies. Green economy-conscious companies are turning to innovative technologies to address climate change, not only with the goal of reducing theenvironmental impact of their operations, but also to mitigate the potential economic and operational risks that such changes may pose.

Climate adaptation strategies can be many, among them we highlight:

• Agricultural adaptation: growing food sustainably
• Infrastructure adaptation: building to resist climate change
• Water adaptation: managing water scarcity in a changing climate
• Rural adaptation: supporting agriculture and rural activities in climate-vulnerable areas
• Building resilient communities: studying the climatic, geographical and social peculiarities of urban areas and involving the local community in decision-making processes
• Sustainable architecture: design and building choices at the service of the environment
• From the global level to the individual level: the responsibility belongs to everyone, every small gesture counts.

Find out more. 

I ghiacciai, con il loro ritiro, sono una delle manifestazioni più eclatanti del riscaldamento climatico in atto. Un ritiro che, oggi, sta avvenendo molto rapidamente e, come conseguenza, la montagna sta cambiando.
Ci siamo posti la domanda di come, a partire dall’ultima glaciazione, la montagna abbia reagito all’assenza dei grandi ghiacciai vallivi che occupavano le nostre principali valli e come stia oggi reagendo al cambiamento climatico. Per questo motivo, assieme al Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra “Ardito Desio” dell’Università degli Studi di Milano, lavoriamo per riconoscere l’evoluzione dei parametri di resistenza dei versanti rocciosi della Val Grosina (Gruppo della Cima Piazzi, Sondrio) che nell’ultima glaciazione erano quasi completamenti sommersi dal ghiaccio per combinarli poi con le variazioni di temperatura e precipitazioni in un modello numerico. L’obiettivo? Descrivere l’evoluzione dell’alta montagna senza ghiacciai e in un’ottica attuale di cambiamento climatico con una evoluzione a lungo termine.
Il progetto del MUSE è realizzato con il sostegno di ITAS Mutua.
 

Il MUSE indaga gli effetti dei cambiamenti climatici passati, recenti e attuali sui processi abiotici e biotici con particolare riferimento all’ambiente montano. I progetti che caratterizzano questo ambito studiano il profondo legame tra clima ed evoluzione della vita concentrandosi sull’analisi delle grandi estinzioni del passato, sulle dinamiche glaciologiche in atto, sull’ecologia di piante e animali con particolare riferimento al bioma alpino utilizzando bioindicatori del cambiamento quali insetti, anfibi, rettili e uccelli. 

• Nella pancia del ghiaccio 
• Ecologia e biodiversità degli ecosistemi acquatici d’alta quota
• Humans and freshwater ecosystems
• Capacità adattativa di specie target di insetti in relazione a cambiamenti climatici e ambientali
• Effetti di “contaminanti emergenti” sulla comunità dei macroinvertebrati di torrenti alpini
• Effetti dei cambiamenti climatici e ambientali sull'avifauna
   

La crisi climatica e le sfide urgenti. Verso la Conferenza ONU sul Clima (COP28)

La conferenza dal titolo “La crisi climatica e le sfide urgenti” affronta le sfide del clima e della società in occasione della 28° Conferenza ONU sul Clima.

Con la partecipazione della delegazione dei giovani trentini alla COP28 e del Gruppo Cassa Centrale Banca – Credito Cooperativo Italiano.
Data: 20 novembre 2023
 

Disarmo climatico. L’impatto ambientale di armi e guerre e i percorsi collettivi possibili verso un futuro di sicurezza climatica.

Il disarmo climatico come elemento necessario ad evitare la crisi ambientale ed ecologica.
Parte da questo concetto la tre giorni di incontri e approfondimenti che si svolge a Trento il 27, 28 e 29 ottobre organizzata da la Rete Italiana Pace e Disarmo, l’Associazione 46° Parallelo e il Forum Trentino per la Pace e i Diritti Umani e in collaborazione con il MUSE e l’Agenzia provinciale per la protezione dell’Ambiente del Trentino Agenda 2030.
Le giornate hanno come obiettivo quello di scattare un’istantanea sulle minacce legate al cambiamento climatico, sempre più concrete e quotidiane, cercando possibili soluzioni. Se la minaccia è globale, c’è infatti bisogno di una risposta altrettanto globale. In questa ottica si inserisce il tema del “disarmo climatico” cioè l’analisi (e la decostruzione) della connessione tra cambiamento climatico e strutture e sistemi militari. Le sessioni si occupano di approfondire l’impatto delle politiche di militarizzazione su clima ed emergenza ambientale, come il cambiamento climatico impatta su conflitti, territori, popolazioni e il ruolo della transizione verso la sicurezza climatica.

 

In Trentino, le cime delle montagne sono tutte imbiancate grazie alle precipitazioni di questi giorni.

La neve modella il paesaggio invernale che ne guadagna in fascino, giova alla montagna, al suo equilibrio e ai suoi ecosistemi.

Ma sotto il manto nevoso, che copre tutto come una candida coperta, la montagna sta cambiando velocemente a causa dei cambiamenti climatici e le ricadute sono concrete.
Tra queste, ad esempio, la perdita di stabilità e la ricerca di un nuovo equilibrio per i versanti delle montagne, dovuta al ritiro progressivo dei ghiacciai che prima tenevano ben saldo il terreno.
Iniziativa sostenuta da partner privato Itas Mutua.

Vai alla sezione tematica "Il futuro delle nostre montagne"

Clima, cambiamento climatico, COP28: vuoi saperne di più o hai domande su questi temi?
Partecipa alle interviste del museo, le domande più votate saranno lo spunto di discussione dei momenti partecipativi organizzati nell’ambito di MUSE Agorà e pubblicate nei pannelli della mostra in corso dedicata alla Conferenza sul clima di Dubai – COP28.
Date: 17 e 24 gennaio 2024 | 7 e 21 febbraio 2024
 

Videolezioni disponibili su Youtube sul tema del cambiamento climatico:

1. Programma ESERO: CLIMATE DETECTIVES indaghiamo i cambiamenti climatici
2. Programma ESERO: CLIMATE DETECTIVES indaghiamo i cambiamenti climatici