It’s no secret that the world is changing at a rapid pace, and some of these shifts may be impacting your future travel itineraries.

The impact of climate change is being felt in destinations worldwide. Evidence can be seen in rising temperatures, warming oceans, melting glaciers and the subsequent rise in sea level, as well as extreme weather events.¹ For those visiting climate change destinations, it’s building urgency to visit sooner than later.

In fact, climate change could even interfere with booked travel. If you have a getaway on the books, and travel to your destination is impossible due to natural disaster or extreme weather, you could be out of luck. But with travel insurance from Allianz Global Assistance, you may be reimbursed for your pre-paid expenses and other losses in the case of a covered event.

Take a look at some of the climate change destinations that may become harder and harder to visit below, but first, take care of the uncertainty that is within your control by finding the right travel insurance plan.

Melting Glaciers

Hearing that the ice caps are melting may seem far from home, but Glacier National Park in Montana is at risk for losing the very glaciers that are its namesake. Two hundred years ago the park had 150 glaciers. Today only 25 active glaciers remain. With the increase in global temperatures, the glaciers are melting in the summer but aren’t growing back in the winter as they have in centuries past.² The melting glaciers can impact water volume, water temperature and by extension, the ecosystem. If you’re crossing all the National Parks off your list, try to stop by Montana sooner than later so that you can experience what’s left of the glaciers. The park is best seen by hikers, but you don’t have to go fully off-grid to enjoy. There are hotels available to visitors so that you can warm up after exploring, no tent required.

Glaciers in climate change destinations around the world are being impacted by climate change, including the Swiss Alps. The melting glaciers in the Alps are causing an increased risk for landslides, mudslides, and avalanches. For now, the Swiss Alps are still a pretty astounding sight, and worth the trip if you’ve got glacier goals. For an unparalleled view of the Alps, catch a cogwheel train up the Jungfrau mountain, which is home to Europe’s highest train station, Jungfraujoch, or “the Top of Europe.”²

Rising Sea Levels

As ice and glaciers melt, the water runoff has to go somewhere: our oceans. As a result, sea levels are rising. To put it in perspective, in the last 100 years the global sea level rose 8 inches. But in the last two decades, the level has risen nearly twice that and continues to accelerate.¹ Some travel destinations are just above sea level, meaning that if climate change continues and the sea levels continue to rise, they could wind up completely underwater.

Take the Maldives, for example. They’re a collection of 1,192 islands off the southwestern coast of India. With white sand beaches, iconic blue waters, and overwater villas, the Maldives have become increasingly popular for tourists in recent decades. At its highest points, the islands are just six feet above sea level. If sea levels continue to rise at the current rate, the infrastructure required for clean water across the islands will be submerged within a few decades. That would make the island uninhabitable not only for tourists, but for the 500,000 people who call the islands home.³

The Maldives’ government is striving toward being carbon neutral, and since they rely heavily on income from tourism, visiting the area can be helpful. When you visit, consider sticking with a sustainable airline (Cathay Pacific Airlines) and opting for an environmentally sensitive resort.²

Ocean Warming

Many of the effects of climate change are being seen above ground, but marine life is also taking a hit. The vibrant colors that are often associated with coral are actually attributed to algae living on its surface.⁴ When coral is stressed, the algae departs, leaving the coral completely white and more vulnerable. Known as coral bleaching, warming sea temperatures play a part, and coral reefs worldwide are shrinking as a result.⁵

Reefs aren’t just beautiful, they’re beneficial. They can help protect the coastline from erosion and storm surges.⁴ The vast biodiversity also makes coral reefs attractive to tourists, bringing in needed revenue. In fact, the Great Barrier Reef off the northern coast of Australia brings four to five billion dollars in tourism revenue to the country annually.

The Great Barrier Reef, the Belize Barrier Reef, and the variety of species that call them home, are also in danger. If you want to see the underwater world for yourself, grab your swim trunks and book a flight. Conservation efforts are in place but most of the world’s coral reefs remain in jeopardy, so the sooner you see them the better.

Don’t Delay

Traveling the world while checking off your bucket list may be something you’re saving for retirement, but if there are climate change destinations you’re longing to see, be sure to keep an eye on how this transformation is impacting these spots. Otherwise, that picture-perfect view you’ve had your heart set on may only be available on a postcard.

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