Ad hoc Working Group for the elaboration of the 11th Report on the State of the Alps

Alpine glaciers are changing drastically. Their retreat as a consequence of rising global temperatures also impacts other ecosystems, water availability, and our safety. Glaciers are an integral part of the European water system, providing a crucial resource for agriculture, energy, and human consumption. Their melting thus threatens to destabilise these basic services, with long-term impacts not only in mountainous regions, but also in lowlands. 

In addition, retreating glaciers and melting permafrost are leaving behind new landscapes that are threatened by natural hazards, such as landslides and glacier lake outburst floods. These events increase the risks for communities and infrastructure. All of this was recognised by the UN, which declared 2025 as the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation. 

For the Alpine region, glacier protection is not only a scientific or environmental priority, but a basis to ensure long-term resilience and safety. The XVIII Alpine Conference therefore established an ad hoc Working Group to elaborate the 11^th Report on the State of the Alps to address this topic at a cross-border level. The Working Group will present the status quo in the Alpine countries in four main areas: the risks of glaciated and deglaciated areas, glaciers as essential water reservoirs, resilience to permafrost thaw, and the water cycle. It will produce recommendations for relevant stakeholders and implement awareness raising activities not only for the relevant experts, but also for Alpine inhabitants. The issues and initiatives will also be the subject of specific collaborations with international initiatives and organisations. The report will address all three priorities of the current Multi-Annual Work Programme 2023-2030.