How has global warming affected the elevation of Alpine plant species?

Global warming has significantly impacted the distribution of plant life in the Alps. Since the early 1900s, rising temperatures have forced an upward migration of Alpine plant species as they seek to remain within their suitable climatic niches.1

Austrian researchers have estimated that the upper limits of these plant species have risen by approximately three feet during each decade of the 20th century. This shift reflects the broader ecological sensitivity of the Alpine region, which is currently considered one of the most threatened mountain systems in the world due to the combined pressures of climate change and intense human activity.12