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Alpine Meltdown. Just a few degrees more…

1. Author: Waltraud Paschinger
2. Director: Waltraud Paschinger
3. Editor: Edith Schabauer
4. Photography: Franz Posch
5. Music: Erwin Kiennast
6. Sound: Klaus Schwarzenberger
7. Production: ORF
8. Austria
9. 50 min.
10. 2011

The climate is changing. Today the scientific community agrees that the temperature of our planet is rising to worrisome levels. The impact is already apparent, especially in remote areas that are more sensitive to change and in the mountains, but also in lowlands. The permafrost zone, i.e. the portion of the planet which is permanently frozen, is decreasing. Glaciers - silent witnesses of the undergoing change - are melting and incessantly releasing water into the valleys below. Rivers are going from powerful floods to extremely low waters in the matter of days. Animals also bear witness to the changing climate, and move in search of the best conditions for their life.

All over the world, scientists are at work to understand what our planet will look like and how the life of the living creatures on it will be impacted. This documentary takes us on a journey into the not-too-distant future, presenting changes that have already occurred and pursuing the question of how the alpine landscapes are going to look like at the end of the 21st century.

Since its creation, the Earth has been changing constantly. For millions of years, nature has adapted to these changes. Some species have vanished, new species have appeared. All of them have developed adaptations - some more effective than others - to cope with environmental changes. There have always been winners and losers. And there will still be.