By Matt McGrath
Environment correspondentPublished1 day agoRelated Topics

• COP26
• https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-54989046?fbclid=IwAR2Mo98KPsixknupEdcOxvNY36NR1lLNAAN7AVAiOcGkoQbzxYhQNqsIANE

Winter activities on ice are becoming increasingly dangerous as the world warms, scientists say.

When researcherslooked at data on drowning accidents in largely frozen lakes or rivers, they saw a “strong correlation” to rising temperatures.

They found that deaths from drowning were five times higher when warmer weather made the ice thinner and weaker.

Children aged under nine years and younger adults were most at risk.

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For indigenous peoples in many northern regions of the world, livelihoods often depend on access to frozen lakes in winter for hunting, fishing and travel.

In countries like the US, Canada and Russia, winter leisure activities such as skating or tobogganing on ice are also hugely popular.