UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres calls on mountain countries to take bold action on climate change mitigation and adaption

External links

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report and its Cross-Chapter Paper 5 on Mountains

Climate change impacts on mountain regions of the world

Climate-Smart Agriculture

Mountain Research Initiative (MRI)

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

Mountains and climate change

Human activities are profoundly affecting the world’s climate, and mountains are a sensitive indicator of that effect. Because of their altitude, slope and orientation to the sun, mountain ecosystems are easily disrupted by variations in climate. Many scientists believe that the changes occurring in mountain ecosystems may provide an early glimpse of what could come to pass in lowland environments.

As the world heats up, mountain glaciers are melting at unprecedented rates, while rare plants and animals struggle to survive over ever diminishing areas, and mountain peoples, already among the world’s poorest citizens, face even greater hardships.

Changes in the volume of mountain glaciers and in their seasonal melting patterns have an impact on water resources in many parts of the world. Changes in water availability due to climate change are taking place at a time when pressure on water resources for irrigation and food production, industrialization and urbanization is increasing.

Understanding how climate change affects mountains is vital as governments and international organizations develop strategies to reverse current global warming trends, elaborating treaties such as the Kyoto Protocol and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. In addition, local community empowerment can be an essential step towards building climate change resilience in mountains.

2nd International Conference on ''Mountains: Biodiversity, Landscapes and Cultures''

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The International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation (UIAA) and Western Caspian University are organizing the 2nd International Conference on “Mountains: Cultures, Landscapes & Biodiversity" in Baku, Azerbaijan at Western Caspian University on 5-6 November 2024.

The conference's main topics will be:

Global Mountain Biodiversity Assessment
Global ecological challenges in mountain regions
Mountain cultures and Mountain...
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Recent updates from Adaptation at Altitude: key insights for mountain stakeholders

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The Adaptation at Altitude programme has recently released a series of briefs and articles containing relevant insights for members of the Mountain Partnership and other mountain stakeholders. These publications delve into pressing issues related to climate change, sustainable land management and conservation, offering insights and practical strategies for adaptation.

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