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.
Mountains and the 2030 Agenda – COP22newsOrganized within the framework of the Mountain Partnership, the official side event “Mapping and understanding mountains to achieve the 2030 Agenda” was held on 11 November 2016 at the 22nd Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP22). The session focused on assessing... Read more » |
UNFCCC COP22 and Mountain Partnership side eventseventAt the 22nd Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP22), also known as the Marrakech Climate Change Conference, on 7-18 November 2016, nations of the world will continue their work on strengthening the global response to the threat of climate change, with... Read more » |
Survey shows positive impacts of IPROMO coursenewsIn July 2017, the International Programme on Research and Training on Sustainable Management of Mountain Areas (IPROMO) will celebrate its tenth anniversary. In order to assess the impact IPROMO has had on its participants’ career development and networking and to improve the programme for the next courses, the Mountain Partnership... Read more » |
New report on African mountain developmentnewsOn 19 October 2016, Albertine Rift Conservation Society (ARCOS), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Partners released a new report that looks at the impact of climate change on mountains in East Africa. “Sustainable Mountain Development in East Africa in a Changing Climate” was launched during... Read more » |
Mountains to be featured at UNFCCC COP22peak to peakIssue 98 – Month 11 – Year 2016 The November issue of Peak to Peak presents a complete list of mountain-related events, exhibits and fora taking place during the 22nd session of the Conference of the Parties (COP22) to the United Nations Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The... Download » |
A network and declaration from Mountains 2016newsThe event Mountains 2016 held in Bragança, Portugal aimed at promoting sustainable development in mountains. It included two conferences: the tenth European Mountain Convention (EMC) on 3-4 October and the first International Conference on Research for Sustainable Development in Mountain Regions (ICRSDMR) on 6-7 October. Mountains 2016 brought together the European... Read more » |
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