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.
![]() Expert review opportunity, IPCC special reportnewsExperts interested in participating in the expert review of the First Order Draft of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate (SROCC) may register to take part until 22 June 2018. The Mountain Research Initiative (MRI) is... Read more » |
![]() Promoting mountain products at AdaptAmericasnewsThe conference AdaptAmericas, organized by the Inter-American Development Bank and partners, took place on 15–16 May 2018 in Panama City, Panama, where participants discussed private and public sector opportunities generated in the context of climate change. Climate change has far-reaching implications for the economies of Latin America and the Caribbean... Read more » |
![]() Mountain session, SDG 15 Expert Group MeetingnewsThe role of mountains as key providers of goods and services essential for global sustainable development was discussed during a dedicated session of the Expert Group Meeting (EGM) on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 15 on Life on Land in New York on 15 May 2018. Andrew Taber, former Chair of the... Read more » |
![]() The Mountain Institute wins St Andrews PrizenewsThe Mountain Institute, a Mountain Partnership member, is the 2018 winner of the St Andrews Prize for the Environment. Their winning project integrates 2 000 years of indigenous knowledge of water management in the Andes with contemporary science and technology to create hybrid solutions that improve water security,... Read more » |
![]() Adaptation in Central Asia mountain villagesnewsThe Alliance of Central Asian Mountain Communities (AGOCA) recently published the brochure Traditional adaptation practices in Central Asian villages. The publication was the result of the multi-year project “Improving resilience and adaptive capacity at the local level”, supported by the Mountain Partnership (MP) Central Asia Mountain Hub (CAMH),... Read more » |
![]() MP Steering Committee meets in Romepeak to peakIssue 115 – Month 5 – Year 2018 The May 2018 issue of Peak to Peak provides a brief overview of the Mountain Partnership Steering Committee meeting held in Rome, Italy, on 23–24 April. The newsletter continues with stories about the 2018 International Mountain Day theme; the baseline data... Download » |
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