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.
Glaciers in South America and Alaska melting faster than those in Europe, says new UNEP reportnewsThe new report entitled "High Mountain Glaciers and Climate Change - Challenges to Human Livelihoods and Adaptation" compiled by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) in partnership with scientists and research centres from around the world, was released on 7 December 2010 at the COP16 in Cancún, Mexico. Glaciers in Patagonia,...
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Norway gives $12 million for adaptation and assessment in the Hindu Kush-HimalayasnewsNorway will provide more than US$12 million over five-years to a consortium of partners led by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) to support a new programme in the Hindu Kush-Himalayas. Erik Solhem, Norway's Minister of the Environment and International Development, made the announcement at a press conference...
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Vacancy: Senior Technical Coordinator - Climate Change Adaptation, AIT-UNEP RRC.AP, Bangkok, THAILAND – applications by 10 December 2010newsThe Climate Change Adaptation Knowledge Platform for Asia is recruiting a Senior Technical Coordinator in Climate Change Adaptation to start on 17 January 2011. This Regional Platform is a joint initiative of SENSA, SEI, UNEP and UNEP RRC.AP aimed at facilitating climate change adaptation in Asia at local, national and...
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Mountain Biodiversity and Global ChangepublicationThe present brochure, published by the Global Mountain Biodiversity Assessment (GMBA) of DIVERSITAS, Institute of Botany, University of Basel with the support of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), has been prepared as a contribution to the International Year of Biodiversity 2010 and the Conference of Parties of... Download » |
United Nations General Assembly Resolution: Sustainable Mountain Development (2010)publicationResolution adopted by the General Assembly on Sustainable mountain development at the 64th Session. A/RES/64/205
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Mountains and Climate Change, from Understanding to ActionpublicationMountains provide freshwater to half of the world’s population and are home to half of all global biodiversity hotspots, but they are also among the regions most sensitive to climate change. The authors of this publication, aim to create awareness about potential changes and related challenges for global development, and... Download » |
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