Glacier National Park

Since the turn of the Industrial Revolution, our planet has seen climate extremes and global warming due in part to an increase in greenhouse gas and carbon emissions. Because of this, affects on climate and weather patterns have become threatening to the well-being of atmospheric conditions, as well as biodiversity on the planet. More specifically, glaciers in locations such as the Arctic, Himalayas, and even Cascades have seen a drastic reduction in volume and subsequently cause or are predicted to cause economic downfalls in regions surrounding and reliant to glacial runoff. The future of hydropower and recreational sources are at more of a risk than ever before. Climate change is the is the main cause of glacial melt across the world.

Glacier National Park in Montana is just one of many templates to this idea. In 2014, 2.3 million people visited Glacier National Park creating an estimated revenue of $193 million. 3,405 jobs were supported through the park (Germann). Given that Glacier National Park is known for its glaciers (hence the name), the importance of their presence becomes crucial in an area heavily reliant on the park’s ecotourism. In 1913, there were over 150 glaciers in the National Park, today, only 25 remain (Mckeon). If this trend continues, the park known for its abundance of ice sheets could soon be reduced to none. Subsequently, tourism and recreation would likely see a decline. The number of people to sleep in their hotels, eat their moose meat and drink their lagers would drop. For these reasons, Glacier National Park and its surrounding communities are reliant on the beauty that the glaciers provide to their local economy. Hydropower, a renewable energy source, creates power for cities all across the world. In the US, it accounts for 75% of the nation’s renewable energy (Naturalresources). But due to causes of anthropogenic global climate change, the future of hydropower is at risk. Lausanne’s EPFL Technical University forecast a 46% decline in hydropower by 2035 because of glacier volume loss (Richard). This could be detrimental in the nation’s efforts to begin the switch to renewable energy and reduce net greenhouse gas usage. Glaciers’ impact on local economies is extremely important. Recreation and hydropower are seen as strong, reliable economic benefits to nearby