Day One of the Glacier Conference: Adapting to a World without Glaciers

Day One Presenters:

• Antonio Brack Egg, Peru’s Minister of Environment
• Lonnie Thompson, Ohio State University
• Marco Zapata, National Water Authority, Peru
• Mark Carey, Washington & Lee University
• Jeff Bury, University of California at Santa Cruz
• Eduardo Durand, Ministry of Environment, Peru
• Jorge Recharte, The Mountain Institute
  

Day One Photos:



Dr. Lonnie Thompson, Byrd Polar Research Center, The Ohio State University




Dr. Antonio Brack Egg (left), Peru's Minister of Environment, and Dr. Jorge Recharte, TMI South America Director




Dr. Mark Carey reviewing the history of glacial lake disasters in Peru




Day One session at Pontifica Universidad Catolica Del Peru, Lima


Day One Reflections:

• At the current rate of glacial recession, we can expect to lose all the world’s glaciers by 2030.
• We’re not only losing these large storehouses of fresh water, but we are also losing the climate history recorded in the world’s glaciers.
• Every one-degree increase in global temperature results in a 10 percent reduction in food production.
• Those closest to the problem—the local people—are those furthest removed from the decision-making process. They are suffering the soonest and perhaps the most.
• Peru is a global leader in addressing the impact of climate change on glaciers.
• Thirty-four glacial lakes have been made safer through engineering projects that lower the water level in Peru’s Cordillera Blanca.