Iceland
Climate change impacts
It takes only 176 days for the average Canadian to produce as much greenhouse gases as the average Icelander will produce over the course of the entire year. Therefore, June 25th (176 days into the year) is "Climate Change Impacts in Iceland Day."
According to Iceland’s National Communication to the UNFCCC, the country has experienced considerable warming over the past 30 years. This warming is “likely to have a substantial effect on glaciers and lead to major runoff changes in Iceland. Changes in glacier runoff are one of the most important consequences of future climate changes in Iceland.” Unfortunately, the impact of changes in runoff from glaciers will not be limited to Iceland. Melting glaciers are contributing to sea level rise, which will affect coastal communities around the world. Other potential impacts of climate change in Iceland include increased magnitude and variability in precipitation, frequency and severity of river and coastal flooding and erosion.
Story
“There have been glaciers in Iceland for millions of years, but by the end of next century they all could be gone. Sheepherder Indridi Adalsteinsson uses the same man-size drafting compass his father made to measure the distance between a large cairn and the glacier’s terminus...”
Read the rest of Indridi’s story, and view pictures of volunteer glacier monitors in Iceland.
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