UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres calls on mountain countries to take bold action on climate change mitigation and adaption
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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.
United Nations General Assembly Report: Sustainable mountain development (2016)publicationReport of the Secretary-General on Sustainable Mountain Development
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Mountain Research and Development issue onlinenewsThe newest issue of Mountain Research and Development is now available online. Papers in this issue explore a broad range of topics related to sustainable development in mountains worldwide. They analyse the potential for photovoltaic power generation in Tajikistan, the socioeconomic contributions of highlander entrepreneurs in Switzerland, large-cardamom production in the...
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Mainstreaming mountains in development policynewsThe Central Asia Regional Consultation Meeting was held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan on 20 September 2016 to discuss “Evidence-based decision making: policy and practice interaction on integration of mountain concerns into development processes. Central Asia regional experience sharing”. The day-long policy dialogue showcased good practices and experiences from the regional countries...
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Asia Pacific Youth Forum 2016eventThe International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) engages young professionals and builds their capacity to bring about positive changes in society through several initiatives.
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Landscape experts met in the European AlpsnewsAround 200 participants from the Americas, Asia and Europe met at the Permanent European Conference for the Study of the Rural Landscape (PECSRL) 2016 conference in Innsbruck and Seefeld, Austria to discuss the past, present and future of rural mountain landscapes. Hosted by the Institute for Interdisciplinary Mountain Research...
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Drying causes Mount Kenya glacier to meltnewsA study published in Cryosphere earlier this year has found that the largest glacier on Mount Kenya, the Lewis Glacier, is melting because of decreasing atmospheric moisture rather than increasing temperatures. In the tropical climate of East Africa, glaciers are an unexpected, yet vitally important part of the ecosystem. Since...
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