Project of the week: Alpine eco-tourism in Switzerland

Project goal: Environmentally-friendly Alpine tourism, energy-efficient buildings
Energy sources: Solar thermal energy and photovoltaic
Project investment: around 5.5 million Euros ($7.95 million)
Emission reduction target: 300 tons of carbon dioxide over 10 years

Mountains around the world have been deeply impacted by climate change – whether it's melting glaciers, the emergence of new plant species on the slopes or the extinction of plant life in the valleys.

The Swiss Alps are no exception. Since the mid-1980s, the region's glaciers, which are regularly measured by scientists, have been diminishing. In 2003 alone, during a record summer, they reportedly shrank by up to five percent.

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