Italy's glaciers at risk of permanent disappearance within decades: research

ROME, Aug. 31 (Xinhua) -- The iconic snow-covered peaks of the Italian Alps are facing an imminent and irreversible disappearance, according to recent research.

Research conducted by the University of Milan, environmental lobby group Greenpeace, and the Italian Glaciological Committee has projected that by 2060, at least 80 percent of Italy's glaciers will vanish. If proven accurate, the repercussions could extend to prolonged and intensified droughts, hurt agriculture in the region, speed up climate change, impact the winter sports industry, and notably alter mountain landscapes.