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Scotland's Peaks Face Pollution Backlash From Global Warming

Posted on: Wednesday, 5 October 2005, 18:00 CDT

By MAUREEN CULLEY

THEY are among the most celebrated mountains in the world, drawing thousands of tourists every year.

From Ben Nevis to the high plateaux of the Cairngorms, their glorious views of unspoilt beauty have few equals.

But experts have issued a dire warning that Scotland's mountain wilderness is facing a serious threat from climate change.

According to new research, the increased rainfall from global warming will mean more pollution problems on higher ground.

The study, detailed in a Scottish Natural Heritage book, explains that any enhanced levels of pollutants such as nitric acid, ozone and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) would impose ' significant changes' in these sensitive areas.

Experts are now calling for action plans to protect the Scottish mountain landscape for people, plants and wildlife.

Environmental expert Rick Battarbee, one of the authors of the study, entitled In Mountains of Northern Europe: Conservation, Management, People and Nature, said: ' Climate change means more pollution and that means problems for areas such as the mountains of Scotland.

'Freshwater streams and lakes in mountain regions usually appear to be in pristine condition. Sadly, this is not always true.

'In some cases, the concentration of toxic pollutants such as PCBs can be higher in the mountains than in the lowlands and global warming may make matters worse.

'There is more rain in the mountains generally and soils erode more easily there. It's colder as well, which pesticides like.

'One of the problems in Scotland has been acid rain and, at the moment, the lakes there seem to be recovering from it.

'Climate change, however, means more rain which reduces the capability of the lakes to recover fully.

'Also, the soil contains pesticides and heavy metals, old pollutants from the industrial revolution carried by the air over long distances.

'With more rain there will be more soil erosion, so these pollutants-will run off into streams and lakes and enter the food chain.

'Many of the pollution hotspots are now recovering, but climate change could offset this recovery.

'We need to stabilise climate change, locally, regionally and globally to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reduce the impact of climate change on the future.' The book is due to launch this week at an international environmental conference in Aviemore, Inverness- shire. It reveals that the earth is expected to warm by 0.6C to 2.6C over the next 50 years, with northern Europe expected to warm 40 per cent more than the global average in winter months while rainfall across the region could increase by up to 20 per cent by 2100.

Professor Des Thompson, an editor of the publication, said: 'Mountains are some of our most sensitive environments. It is important that we monitor this closely and develop conservation strategies that will help to protect our special wildlife and habitats.' Meanwhile, ScottishPower was yesterday named and shamed by environmentalists as the country's worst polluting power company, topping a greenhouse gas league table. As a result of new Europewide rules, this week, for the first time, all power companies are obliged to tell their consumers how polluting their electricity is.

Figures released by Friends of the Earth reveal that Scottish- Power and Powergen generate the most carbon dioxide emissions for each unit of electricity supplied, while British Gas and EDF Energy generate the most nuclear waste per unit.

Friends of the Earth Scotland urged consumers to start 'pulling the plug' by switching suppliers and its chief executive, Duncan McLaren, said: ' Telling power companies why you are switching will help stimulate demand for less-polluting alternatives.'

Source: Daily Mail; London (UK)

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