Reflection: "Where Glaciers Melt Away, Switzerland Sees Opportunity."

Time for another article reflection. This one has two authors, which I think is a bit different than usual -- Henry Fountain and Ben C. Solomon on February 14 for the New York Times. This fascinated me because of the innovative, visionary aspects of Switzerland's plans.

I loved this article. I think it may be one of my favorites I’ve ever read. The headline immediately grabbed my attention, and the visual map aspect of it was captivating. Instead of black text on a rolling white background, moving images and slow-lapse videos held the text. The article was written by two NYT reporters who traveled to the Swiss Alps to observe melting glaciers and the effects this has on the environment. It opens with the Trift Glacier—a beauty lost to climate change. Hydropower dams and generating plants provide “more than half of [Switzerland’s] electricity.”

I didn’t know this country was so dependent on hydro-powered electricity. I also didn’t know that melting glacier water could benefit countries in such a way. The article states the Aletsch Glacier, the longest in the Alps, powers one of the plants. I found it astonishing Switzerland obtains 60 percent of its electricity is harnessed this way, yet the U.S. is a mere seven percent. Climate change is “helping” Switzerland for now, providing greater power, but what about the future? The article says when the dams and plants were built, they didn’t consider global warming.

To combat this, some are proposing building a new plant at the Gebidem dam and tunneling upwards, creating a lake where the remainder of the Oberaletsch glacier can melt and flow to. This plant would be inside the mountain, reducing the visual and environmental impact of the project. From there, it could flow to other plants—and serve as “backup power”. It has been approved, and construction may start in 2022 and be done by 2030.

I think this is an innovative and creative way to harness the effects of global warming and melting ice. However, it makes me wonder if Switzerland is also coming up with ways to combat global warming. These plans imply complacency and a future with massive loss of glacial ice. Could this be their submission to global warming, or a smart way to go with the flow? (Pun intended)

What do you think about this innovation? Do you think the US should adopt more plans like this?