Climate change mitigation - State and impacts (Liechtenstein)

Total greenhouse gas emissions increased by almost 6 % from 1990 to 2007. From 2006 to 2007, a pronounced decrease was observed due to high prices of combustibles and a mild winter with a low number of heating days.

In recent years, various research programmes on the effects of global climate warming in the Alpine region have been conducted. The development so far and projections indicate that noticeable effects are to be expected. Changes to the permafrost boundary and water drainages will play a central role in this regard. Liechtenstein is also affected by these developments.

Vulnerability assessments

It is, however, difficult to transfer the consequences of global climate warming calculated on the basis of models, primarily for Switzerland, to the spatial scale of Liechtenstein. The available climate models are not yet able to predict detailed regional consequences. Overall, the following general effects can be expected as a consequence of a further increase in CO₂ concentrations and the associated rise in temperature:

Health

The increase in intensity of heat waves in combination with high tropospheric ozone concentrations represents the greatest risk that climate change poses to people’s health (increased mortality). Another important impact of climate change on health is the occurrence of vector-borne diseases. Tropical diseases will increasingly occur in central Europe (malaria, dengue fever), and existing diseases will spread to higher elevations and therefore also to new regions of the country (borreliosis, meningitis). There is still a great deal of uncertainty as to what future developments will be.

Ecosystems

Warming changes the composition of forest vegetation. Deciduous trees may become more important than today. Additional weather instabilities such as storms and avalanches may have a further negative effect on forest vegetation.

Water cycles and soil

The increasing weather instabilities may lead to floods in winter and droughts in summer. A great danger in this regard exists in the narrow Alpine valleys (mountain streams), where various protective measures (e.g., rock fall barriers and water course corrections) are necessary. A further danger is posed by the river Rhine which, although regulated, may endanger the heavily used Rhine Valley floor in the event of a flood.

Tourism

Within the next decades, Liechtenstein’s tourism sector will have to deal with great challenges caused by climate change related developments in ecosystems. Especially the winter tourism sector will be hit by higher temperatures as the rise of the freezing level will lead to higher snow lines. As a consequence, the skiing periods will be shorter, especially for skiing areas situated between 1500m and 2000m, for example Malbun. Consequences will be fewer hotel overnight stays as well as fewer guests in the sectors of winter sports and gastronomy.   

Other economic sectors

Global climate warming will affect further economic sectors in Liechtenstein. Because of the processes described above, agriculture and forestry will be directly affected. A rise in temperatures will have a negative effect on the productivity of grain cultivation in the long term. The expected increase in elevation of the snow and increasing weather instability also have an effect on the important recreation areas of Malbun and Steg. The international involvement of the insurance sector will likely suffer the most severe consequences from an increase in the probability of losses.

As a pure mountain country, Liechtenstein is dependent on the stability of the ecosystem. This is an important reason why Liechtenstein has initiated an active climate policy and why it takes part in international networks such as the Alpine Convention.