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COP 28: Elevating mountains for climate security solutions

20.12.2023

"Mountains are under threat from climate change, posing significant risks to peace and security,” stressed Rosalaura Romeo, Coordinator of the Mountain Partnership Secretariat, during a COP 28 side event on the links between security and climate change in mountains.

The event featured a diverse panel of speakers representing intergovernmental and civil society organizations from various mountain regions. They delved into the potential security risks associated with climate change in mountainous areas and presented solutions, underlining the urgent need for collaborative action.

The discussion’s main focus was how to leverage opportunities such as the Five Years of Action for the Development of Mountain Regions 2023–2027 to elevate mountains to the forefront of international processes and ensure a resilient future for these vital ecosystems.

Anil Mishra from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) presented the roadmap for the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation 2025, another important framework aimed at accelerating action and drawing attention to the cryosphere. The Year is being coordinated jointly by UNESCO and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

WMO representative, Ian Lisk, highlighted the fundamental role of partnerships in addressing key challenges related to water availability and establishing effective monitoring and forecasting systems. Conflicts are often trigged over shared resources and require regional cooperation to tackle the shared obstacles faced by many mountain countries.

The Alpine Convention is an example of this as highlighted by Alenka Smerkolj from the Alpine Convention. Alenka showcased the Alpine Convention’s transboundary efforts to protect receding glaciers and restore biodiversity hotspots in the Alps. These initiatives not only safeguard ecological integrity but also ensure that mountain ecosystems continue to provide essential resources, contributing to the resilience of the region.

Other speakers emphasized the need for robust advocacy efforts to prompt further action from key governments and global leaders. Onno Ruhl from the Aga Khan Agency for Habitat (AKAH) underscored that the well-being of mountain people can be enhanced through community mobilization, science and innovation, and high-quality planning in mountain communities.

It also requires investments and financing opportunities as discussed by Eric Smith from the Aspen International Mountain Foundation (AIMF), who detailed actions taken by the United States of America Government to invest in climate initiatives, including grant programmes and tax incentives.

The event concluded with a stark warning from Grammenos Mastrojeni from the Secretariat of the Union for the Mediterranean, stressing that glaciers are on the brink of collapse. If mountains and glaciers continue to be ignored, it will have far-reaching consequences on both mountain people and downstream populations, with millions at immediate risk of migration. Advocacy for mountains in the global agenda is crucial to protect the intricate link between mountain people and their ecosystems.

The event, “Elevating mountains and the cryosphere to the forefront of international processes”, was organized by the Mountain Partnership Secretariat (MPS) and was held in the ICCI Cryosphere Pavilion on 10 December 2023 during COP 28. Speakers included Rosalaura Romeo, Coordinator, MPS; Alenka Smerkolj, Secretary General, Alpine Convention; Anil Mishra, Chief of Section, Hydrological Systems, Climate Change and Adaptation Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme, Division of Water Sciences, UNESCO; Ian Lisk, President, Commission for Weather, Climate, Hydrological, Marine and Related Environmental Services and Applications (SERCOM), WMO; Onno Ruhl, General Manager, AKAH; Eric Smith, Vice President, AIMF; and Grammenos Mastrojeni, Senior Deputy Secretary General, Secretariat of the Union for the Mediterranean.

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