Early Warning in the Cryosphere: Lessons in Monitoring from Blatten and Beyond

This virtual event brings leading experts from academia and the private sector to examine the evolving challenges of developing early warning systems (EWS) for cryosphere-related hazards in mountain regions. Insights will be provided from specialists involved in monitoring and EWS deployment in Switzerland, particularly the recent disaster in Blatten, where timely evacuation was made possible by existing monitoring infrastructure. From there, the panel will broaden its focus to the Himalayas and other parts of High Mountain Asia, exploring whether similar systems can be adapted or scaled in regions with different terrain. The discussion will highlight both the technical and institutional challenges in translating lessons from places like Blatten to more complex or under-resourced settings. Key discussion questions will include: What are the priorities in establishing in-situ vs. remote monitoring? How can lessons from recent disasters inform future preparedness in the Himalayan region and beyond? What does it take to scale localized success stories to other regions globally? This event is made possible with the support of the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and the Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies (MACP).