ULAN BATOR, March 28 (Xinhua) -- Mongolia on Saturday marked this year's Earth Hour under the theme "Mountains and Climate Change," highlighting the growing environmental challenges facing its high-altitude ecosystems.
On the occasion, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)-Mongolia warned that climate change could lead to the rapid melting of ice and snow in the country's snow-capped mountains. This, in turn, may cause rivers originating from these mountains to dry up and threaten the survival of rare high-altitude species.
To raise public awareness, the WWF-Mongolia organized several activities in Ulan Bator, the capital of Mongolia, including exhibitions featuring photographs and artifacts related to the country's snow-capped mountains and the snow leopard.
According to the WWF-Mongolia, glaciers and permanent snow in Mongolia's major mountain ranges are projected to shrink by up to 65 percent by 2050 due to climate change. In addition, river flow across the country could decrease by 24 percent if current warming trends continue.
The WWF-Mongolia also noted that the past 11 years have been the warmest on record globally, accelerating the melting of glaciers and permanent snow in high mountain regions. This trend is expected to increase the risk of flooding in the near term, while leading to the drying up of rivers in some areas over the long term.
Earth Hour is a global movement organized annually by WWF, usually on the last Saturday of March, encouraging individuals, communities, and businesses to dedicate one hour to raising awareness and taking action for the planet. ■
