Switzerland is Covering Glaciers in Sheep's Wool to Fight Climate Change

As record summer temperatures accelerate the retreat of Alpine ice, Swiss researchers have turned to an unconventional weapon against climate change: raw sheep’s wool.

For years, ski resorts and environmental groups have practiced “snow farming,” covering vulnerable glaciers with massive synthetic tarpaulins during the summer heat. While these plastic-based sheets effectively reflect sunlight and slow the melting process, they come with a severe environmental cost. As the synthetic fibers deteriorate under harsh high-altitude UV light and severe weather, they shed polluting microplastics directly into the pristine Alpine meltwater and the surrounding environment.

To solve this dirty secret, a pilot program called the “Keep It Wool” project was launched on the Tsanfleuron Glacier in western Switzerland. Researchers from the University of Lausanne and the Summit Foundation laid down two prototype wool blankets, each measuring 100 square meters, to test if natural fleece could survive the mountain’s brutal conditions without polluting the ecosystem.