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.
![]() Zero-draft for Rio+20 – paragraph n. 94 on mountainsnewsThe zero-draft of the outcome document for Rio+20 Conference is now online with a paragraph (n.94) dedicated to mountains. The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) Conference will take place on 20-22 June 2012 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to mark the 20th anniversary of the 1992... Read more » |
![]() Everest must be put on United Nations danger listnewsMount Everest must be put on the United Nations endangered list because of the impacts of climate change, say campaigners urging the UNESCO World Heritage Committee. The initiative is organised by Pro Public (Friends of the Earth Nepal) and the Climate Justice Programme, and supported by Friends of... Read more » |
Going green: Top 10 bilateral climate change donors in 2010-2012newsThe world’s major bilateral donors continue to invest in climate change programming, primarily to comply with the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change US $30 billion Fast Start Finance mechanism for enhanced action on mitigation, adaptation, REDD+, technology development and transfer and capacity building. The top financier of... Read more » |
![]() Dolomite mountains: "crumbling down" in winter caused by climate change?newsA few days before Christmas, the eastern slope of the Sass Maor has fallen to pieces. Read more » |
UHI research warns of snow-free 'black Christmases'newsBy 2050 more snow-free ‘black Christmases’ are likely to affect Rovaniemi, capital of the Finnish Lapland and official hometown of Santa Claus, a study led by the Centre for Mountain Studies - University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) says. The case study was conducted in the context of the... Read more » |
![]() Climate change impacts, adaptation and development in mountain regions: key issues in Central AsiamultimediaEffective adaptation strategies are required in response to the impact of climate change in mountain regions. With a view to better integrating scientific evidence and mountain people's experience into international discussions, experts from Azerbaijan, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia and Tajikistan met in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, from 9 to 11 November 2011. Watch... Read more » |
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