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.
![]() March for the EartheventEarth Day Italia Onlus will host the March for the Earth on 8 November in recognition of Pope Francis’ recent appeal for integral ecology to raise awareness about climate change and social injustice. Participants will gather at the Colosseum at 9:00 and begin walking the route along Via... Read more » |
![]() Sign the petition for mountainsnewsThe current draft of the international climate change agreement has a proposed mention of mountains, which the petition being circulated by the Mountain Partnership (MP) aims to retain in the final draft. (Please sign the petition here.) The online petition calls on delegates at the 21st session of... Read more » |
![]() UN adopts three targets on mountainspeak to peakIssue 85 – Month 10 – Year 2015 The September issue of the Peak to Peak opens with a story about the adoption of SDGs which includes three mountain- related targets under two goals. The newsletter also features news about an international petition as well as a declaration... Download » |
![]() Declaration on mountains at UNFCCC COP21newsIn preparation for the twenty-first session of the Conference of the Parties (COP21) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) that will take place in Paris during the period 30 November – 11 December, the Mountain Partnership Secretariat in collaboration with key members and under the guidance of its Steering... Read more » |
![]() Online petition for mountains at UNFCCC COP21newsIn preparation for the twenty-first session of the Conference of the Parties (COP21) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) that will take place in Paris during the period 30 November – 11 December, the Mountain Partnership Secretariat in collaboration with key members and under the guidance of... Read more » |
![]() Adapting to climate change in Taita HillsnewsStrategies to adapt to the effects of climate change are now necessary especially to the small-scale farmers practicing rain-fed agriculture, who are among those most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Climate change has brought with it water scarcity, longer dry spells and late onset/early cessation of rainy seasons.... Read more » |
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