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.
![]() Bhutan: USD 12 Million for Adaptation ProgrammesnewsIn what will be the biggest adaptation project to be implemented by Bhutan, the National Environment Commission (NEC) is developing the second phase of the National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA) which is estimated to cost about USD 12 million. NAPA is a mechanism under the United Nations Framework Convention... Read more » |
![]() New members of the Mountain Partnership in Latin AmericanewsFour organizations from Latin America received their membership from the Mountain Partnership. The new members are Instituto Boliviano de la Montaña (The Bolivian Mountain Institute – BMI) based in La Paz, Bolivia; Fundación Cordillera Tropical (Foundation Tropical Cordillera) based in Cuenca, Ecuador; Fundación CoMunidad (Foundation Community) from Panama City and... Read more » |
![]() Two months to go for the UNFCCC/CDM International Photo, Video and Podcast Contest 2012newsThe UNFCCC invites you to participate in a contest that aims to select extraordinarily good ways of highlighting the benefits of the Kyoto Protocol’s Clean Development Mechanism. The three categories of the contest aim to inspire participants to communicate a complex message in a way that might surprise or even... Read more » |
![]() Ten Central African countries agree to improve forest monitoringnewsThe forests of Africa's Congo Basin, approximately 200 million hectares, are one of the world's largest primary rainforests, second only to the Amazon. The region's forests support the livelihoods of some 60 million people. A new regional initiative will help ten Central African countries to set up advanced national forest... Read more » |
![]() 43rd Meeting of the Pacific Islands ForumeventThe 43rd meeting of the Pacific Island Forum (PIF 43) will take place from 27-31 August 2012. The meeting will be preceded by a Smaller Islands States (SIS) Leaders’ Meeting and Pacific African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States Leaders’ Meeting. PIF 43 will include a Formal Session, Leaders’... Read more » |
![]() Contributions to policy from scientific research - a view from the mountainsnewsThe Mountain Research Initiative (TC Americas) and CONDESAN convened a round table discussion, titled “Monitoring of change in mountains: how can research feed policy for sustainable development?” as part of activities in the Mountain Pavilion during the Rio+20 conference. Invited speakers included representatives from Europe, Asia, and North and South... Read more » |
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