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.
![]() Expo 2020 Dubai Climate and Biodiversity Theme Week InsightspublicationFrom October 2021 to March 2022, Dubai and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) brought more than 200 nations and organizations together to chart a course forward for a cleaner, safer and healthier future for all. Designed in conjunction with 192 nations and adopted by the UAE Cabinet, the Programme for... Download » |
![]() International Mountain Day: Spotlighting cultural heritage and ethical fashionpeak to peakThe January 2023 issue of Peak to Peak recaps the highlights of International Mountain Day 2023, "Women move mountains". Top news stories cover high-level events held in Rome as well as celebrations held wordwide to commemorate the International Day. Furthermore, news stories announce a collaborative initiative to protect mountain landscapes... Download » |
![]() Ecosystem restoration in the mountains - policy briefpublicationMountains play a crucial role for both the highlands and lowlands, but are particularly vulnerable to climate change and human interventions. This policy brief focuses on ecosystem restoration in the mountains. It highlights the role of healthy mountain ecosystems and their services and provides a set of recommendations to help... Download » |
![]() Women move mountains: High-level events to mark International Mountain Daypeak to peakThe December 2022 issue of Peak to Peak announces the upcoming high-level events planned for International Mountain Day (IMD) 2022. Top news stories highlight mountains on agendas in international discussions, recapping mountain-related side events at UNFCCC COP27 and introducing the approval of a new resolution on sustainable mountain development at... Download » |
![]() Mountain Observations: Monitoring, Data, and Information for Science, Policy, and Society - policy briefpublicationObservations play a key role in tracking mountain global change and its impacts, understanding the various processes and feedback mechanisms involved, and delivering more reliable projections of the future to society. This policy brief provides an overview of the current state of multi-disciplinary mountain observations. It represents a contribution of the... Download » |
![]() COP15 should protect mountain landscapes, says new IIED publicationnewsThe new global biodiversity framework (GBF) due to be agreed at negotiations known as COP15 in Montreal in December, and aimed at halting and reversing the loss of nature, needs to protect biodiversity-rich mountain landscapes and the Indigenous People and local communities that govern them, according to a new...
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