Austria's glaciers will have practically disappeared in a few decades, researchers studying climate change effects warned in Salzburg on Friday.
"In 40 to 45 years, Austria will be largely ice-free," said Andreas Kellerer-Pirklbauer from the Institute of Geography and Spatial Research at the University of Graz.
Of 93 glaciers observed, all but one lost length between 2022 and 2023, he noted.
Most dramatic is the decline in the more than 8-kilometre-long Pasterze glacier, located directly beneath Austria's highest mountain, the Großglockner.
Here a loss of 203.5 metres was measured, as recorded in the latest glacier report presented by the Austrian Alpine Association (ÖAV) in Salzburg. This represents a loss of 14.03 million cubic metres of ice.
On average, the 93 glaciers retreated by 23.9 metres in the past year of observation, which is the third-highest value in the 133-year history of the Alpine Association's measurements.
The retreat was even greater in 2021-22 at 28.7 metres and in 2016-17 at 25.2 metres. This means that all three record highs were recorded in just seven years.
According to the experts, the demise of the glaciers in Austria can no longer be prevented due to climate change.
"The system is too sluggish," said Gerhard Karl Lieb from the ÖAV glacier measurement service. "Nothing works here anymore."
While restrictive climate protection measures are coming too late for the Austrian glaciers, Lieb said progress can still be achieved at a global level.