Events

The International Mountains and Climate Congress

From: 11.11.2015 to: 11.11.2015

In 2015, mountaineers and scientists the world over will gather in Grenoble, in the heart of the French Alps, to discuss global warming in mountainous regions for the International Mountain and Climate Congress –Testimonies from the Summit. At this one-day international event mountaineers, scientists, journalists and politicians will discuss issues of climate change in the mountain environment. The conclusions congress will be brought to the attention of political leaders and the international community at the UN Climate Conference in Paris in December 2015.

The aim of the International Mountain and Climate Congress is to place the mountain environment and its specific features on the international political agenda. Like islands and oceans, mountains serve as “warning systems.” They directly suffer from climate change, with clearly visible effects on the landscape and on inhabitants’ lifestyles. This congress will highlight the impacts of climate change from a mountaineer’s perspective, explaining the risks for valleys below, and promoting examples of alternative strategies of adaptation.

The congress will be organized around three panel discussions covering different issues:

- Introduction: The impact of global warming on the mountain environment (testimony from mountaineers and scientists)

- Panel discussion 1: The future for mountain regions with tourist facilities

- Panel discussion 2: How should activities and practices evolve in wilderness areas

- Panel discussion 3: How will mountain regions adapt to global warming (biodiversity, forests, water, agriculture, energy)

The congress will be free of charge and 400 participants are expected to attend. In the evening, a screening of films will be organized in partnership with Les Rencontres du Cinéma de Montagne, sponsored by the City of Grenoble. A movie specially made for the occasion, presenting different scenarios of the future, will be shown. Several other mountain-themed movies on global climate change will also be screened at the event. Some 4 000 people are expected to attend this special evening at Grenoble’s Palais des Sports.

Last but not least, a document summing up daily conclusions and proposals will be presented to the audience. This document, or “Call for Action,” will be signed by public figures, scientists and citizens. The goal is to facilitate public participation in discussion, and to publicize the conclusions of the Congress. Finally, the concluding document will be presented to the organizers of the 21^st session of the Conference of Parties (COP21) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

The International Mountain and Climate Congressaims to publicize its conclusions on a global scale, which calls for an ambitious, proactive public-relations strategy including:

- Activating social networks and traditional media prior to the event

- Making a mountain-themed film to raise awareness on climate issues for a general audience

- National and international media coverage

- Launching a website

- Making a film on the Congress itself, enhanced through social networks and websites

- Promoting the “Call for Action” through the Place2be platform and the Call for our Mountains platform.

Created in 2012, the Mountain Coordination brings together mountain stakeholders to encourage discussion and coordinated information campaigns and communication, focusing on access to mountains for young people, training, accommodation and shelters and accident prevention.

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Photo: Flickr/SylvainP