Climbing for Climate - Marmolada

THE MISSION

STOPPING CLIMATE CATASTROPHE,
PROTECT BIODIVERSITY,
RESTRAIN RESOURCE CONSUMPTION

Promoted by the Network of Universities for Sustainable Development (RUS), the event on the Marmolada is organized by the Università degli Studi di Brescia and the Università degli Studi di Padova in collaboration with the RUS Universities of Veneto (Università Ca' Foscari Venezia, Università degli Studi di Verona, Università IUAV di Venezia), the Università degli Studi di Trento and the Club Alpino Italiano (CAI) Sezione di Brescia and Sezione di Padova.

CFC6 is sponsored by: MASE - Ministry of Environment and Energy Security, CRUI - Conference of Italian University Rectors, CGI - Italian Glaciological Committee, UNITA - Universitas Montium, ASviS - Italian Alliance for Sustainable Development, CAI - Italian Alpine Club.

When

September 7-8, 2024

What

The Marmolada is the iconic glacier of the Dolomites and one of the most studied in the Alps, currently at the center of an accelerated melting process, which turned into tragedy during the catastrophic event on July 3, 2022. It is also a symbolic glacier, caught between two development models: the ski-oriented model, which saw the construction of one of Italy’s first ski lifts on the Marmolada in 1947, and the more recent proposal for alternative tourism and sustainable mountain use, put forward in 2020 by a network of local associations and entities.

Since 2019, the Marmolada has also hosted Italy’s first example of a "participatory" glaciological campaign, an awareness initiative on the outcomes of glacier melting. This campaign is a collaboration between the Italian Glaciological Committee and the Geography Museum of the University of Padua, now in its sixth edition, like Climbing for Climate (CFC).

The CFC 2024 event has two main objectives. Nationally, it aims to raise awareness of the rapid and dramatic melting of the glacier through the collection and dissemination of updated data and studies. Locally, it seeks to launch a document advocating for "another Marmolada": no longer just the "perfect mountain" for mountaineering and skiing (as described by Dino Buzzati), but a "teaching mountain" capable of guiding high-altitude enjoyment by promoting mitigation, adaptation, and awareness of global warming. The universities participating in the RUS intend to be active contributors to this strategy, in collaboration with local authorities, institutions, and associations.

At the end of the event, participants will sign a shared document on the future use of the Marmolada and Italian mountains in light of the challenges posed by climate change and the necessary ecological transition.

To this end, the event will be preceded by preparatory meetings of a dedicated working group during the summer with local and national stakeholders, led by the RUS (University of Padua), aimed at drafting the document.