Austria

It takes only 179 days for the average Canadian to produce as much greenhouse gases as the average Austrian will produce over the course of the entire year.  Therefore, June 28th (179 days into the year) is "Climate Change Impacts in Austria Day."

Austria’s highly sensitive mountainous regions, which cover 70% of the country, make the country particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change.  A significant change in climate is already being observed in Austria.  The Fourth National Communication of the Austrian Federal Government explains that “Mean annual temperature has increased in the order of 1–2°C within the last 50 years, the share of snowfall in total precipitation has decreased even in high altitudes, and glacier inventories show losses in area and volume.”

These increased temperatures are translating into less snow and shorter winters.  This spells trouble, considering winter tourism “accounts for about 4% of Austria's GDP.”  Other impacts include an alteration in the timing and amplitude of runoff from snow, increased evaporation, and decreasing soil moisture.  Austria may also experience an increase in “the frequency of natural hazards such as landslides, mudslides and avalanches.”