UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres calls on mountain countries to take bold action on climate change mitigation and adaption
External links
Mountains and climate change
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.
Adaptation Outlook for the Hindu Kush HimalayanewsAs the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) is one of the most vulnerable regions on Earth to climate change, implementing adaptation measures that target these mountains and downstream areas is crucial. But to what extent are existing national and sectoral adaptation policies relevant to the HKH, and where can they be...
|
IMD celebrated in over 40 countries in 2016peak to peakIssue 101 – Month 2 – Year 2017 The February issue of Peak to Peak takes readers on a tour of International Mountain Day (IMD) celebrations held throughout the world. The newsletter opens with a story about the overall global success of IMD 2016, which saw over 200 events... Download » |
Twelve countries discuss snow leopardsnewsThe Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection Program (GSLEP) held a Steering Committee meeting on 20 January 2017 in Kathmandu, Nepal. A two-day stocktaking workshop preceded the meeting to discuss the status of the GSLEP landscapes management plans and the overall progress of national snow leopard and ecosystem...
|
Chile’s public consultation on mountain policynewsChile’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Heraldo Muñoz, has announced that Chile will be the first country in South America to have a national public policy on sustainable mountain development. To decide the final policy, Chile has launched a public consultation, encouraging Chilean citizens to make suggestions and help...
|
Mountain Research Initiative’s new directornewsThe Mountain Research Initiative (MRI) has appointed a new director. Dr Carolina Adler will take office in May 2017. With Carolina Adler, the MRI has chosen a director with outstanding achievements in the field of public policy, winning the Harold D. Lasswell prize for policy research in mountain...
|
Online digest on mountain climate changenewsThe 50th issue of the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development’s (ICIMOD) thematic digest on mountain climate change is now available online. Prepared for members of the Mountain Forum, Mountain Partnership and other regional and global networks, this issue includes ICIMOD Regional Member Countries’ news, global news and...
|
Mountain Partnership
| Our work
| Focus areas
| Follow Us
Subscribe to Peak to Peak Newsletter
|
