Environmental experts announced on Tuesday that Colombia’s Andean glaciers will disappear within the next 25 years if the current climatic trend continues.
Ricardo Lozano, head of Colombia’s Environmental Studies Institute stated that the stance he holds now is far firmer than it was back in 2005, claiming that experts are now able to confirm with 90% probability that Colombia will lose her glaciers within 25 years, reported environmental website Solve Climate.
The Solve Climate article stated that in 1983, the five glaciers in the El Cocuy national park were expected to survive another 300 years.
Disappearing glaciers could have a serious effect on Colombia’s ability to generate power – 73% of the country’s electricity is hydro power, much of which comes from glacial meltwater.
A Columbia University reseach report identified correlation between decreased rainfall and the outbreak of internal warfare. Loss of glaciers and thus, “water-stress”, will have far reaching consquences, the likes of which will undoubtedly fuel disruption and conflict amid the already volatile civil situation in Colombia.
The coordinator for Greenpeace Latin America, Gustavo Ampugnani also reiterated his statements that glacial melt is not the only environmental threat to Colombia. In September Ampugnani sent an appeal to President Alvaro Uribe requesting that he take action to prevent further destruction to Colombia’s fragile moorlands – of which 75% will vanish if global temperatures continue to rise.
Environmentalists have asked Uribe to demand severe reductions in emissions from developped nations at the next Copenhagen Climate Summit.