Shrinking glaciers are not only heating up relations in the Arctic, with countries competing for control over maritime passageways or undersea natural resources, these victims of global warming are also kindling tension on land by forcing Europe to redraw its borders. The line of demarcation between Italy and Switzerland has been defined by the ridge crest of glaciers in the Alps by convention since 1941. This crest is changing, requiring a new criterion for demarcation.
Luckily this is not likely to cause conflict — diplomatic or otherwise — between these two European countries. However, one might not be so confidant that a peaceful resolution lies under the ice for less friendly nations. The border between Pakistan and China is already a vague, frozen zone. What about the snowy boundaries of Kashmir or Nepal? Fortunately we have GPS technology which can solidify border agreements between nations without relying on “patriotic rocks”. Countries whose borders may be afflicted by the effects of climate change should deploy these solutions soon in joint operations with their neighbours. There is likely to be a bit of cheating if any new resources are found under the ice. Thus, for the sake of peaceful co-existence, GPS demarcation should be established where current borders lie.
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