Ο Nico μιλά ως αυτόπτης μάρτυρας της κλιματικής αλλαγής
Όταν ο Nico Hojac ήταν 15 ετών, πήγε στη Val Ferret במסגרת ενός προγράμματος γλωσσικής ανταλλαγής. Όμως, αντί να μάθει γαλλικά, ανακάλυψε το πάθος του για τα βουνά. Καθώς διασχίζουμε δεμένοι με σχοινί τον παγετώνα Konkordiaplatz, ο Nico μας καθοδηγεί με άνεση· η εμπειρία, οι γνώσεις και η αφοσίωσή του στα βουνά είναι ολοφάνερες. Σταματώντας σε ένα ασφαλές σημείο της διαδρομής μας, ο Nico μάς εξηγεί πώς η κλιματική αλλαγή απειλεί το άθλημά του και το επάγγελμά του.
How are you changing climate and melting glaciers affecting alpinism?
Mountaineering will become more dangerous in the future. As permafrost begins to thaw, it will cause more and more rockfalls, which can be fatal. The melting glaciers also often leave behind rubble and scree, making routes and access more difficult. Plus, climate change is not only causing the glaciers to melt, it is also causing the weather to become more erratic and extreme which makes climbing windows harder to predict.
“Βλέποντας τους παγετώνες να αλλάζουν, εμπνεύστηκα να μειώσω το ανθρακικό μου αποτύπωμα.”
You've been inspired to reduce your carbon footprint. What changes have you made to your lifestyle?
It’s difficult to feel like you’re making a difference as an individual, but you can’t lose hope. Every action matters, big or small. I’ve decided for myself that I will only go on an expedition once a year and will try to avoid flying as much as possible. The three main things I think most people can do as an individual are: eat less meat, fly less, and vote, vote, vote.
How important is awareness of the issue for creating change?
I think it's important to address these problems and share them with people. It is not about just saving the mountains but the whole planet. The effects we see in glaciers are just the tip of the iceberg. That's why I'm also campaigning for NGOs like Protect Our Winters and giving talks about the problem. The more people know, the better their decisions will be, and the better hope we have at solving this crisis.
