Holding on or Letting Go? Alpinists and Their Reactions to Climate Change in the Austrian Mountains

Abstract

This study researched how alpinists perceive the changes climate change is bringing to the Austrian Alps and how they are adapting their behaviour. Data were collected through an online questionnaire, resulting in 199 responses included in the analysis. Based on substitution behaviour theories, results showed that informational coping strategies are favoured most, followed by temporal and spatial substitution, while activity substitution ranked last. Through three multiple regression analyses, correlations between perceived impacts and resulting behaviour shifts were analysed. The results indicate that respondents adapt their behaviour when they perceive actual constraints, such as routes deteriorating or becoming too difficult because of the impacts of climate change. Similarly, perceived increases in risk relate to behaviour shifts. Acceptance of climate change showed no significant association with behaviour change in this sample, though this result should be interpreted cautiously given that 98.5% of respondents already accepted climate change as real, leaving minimal variance for the predictor to explain. Interestingly, perceived changes in rockfalls were not significantly related to behaviour shifts and, in relation to activity substitution, even had a negative effect. The results partially confirm findings from previous studies, yet the unexpected negative effect of perceived changes in rockfall events contradicts current research. More investigation is needed to understand how alpinists perceive rockfall events and associated risks in the Austrian Alps. Resulting practical implications suggest that alpinists need to be made aware of the current state of routes and any prevailing risks. Awareness of these actual constraints appears to relate to alpinists reconsidering whether they are planning their trips safely and to adjust their plans if necessary.