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.
![]() Call for participation, IPCC special reportnewsAs part of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) sixth assessment cycle, an IPCC Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate (SROCC) is currently being written and is to be completed and published by the end of 2019. The report assesses the relevant literature on... Read more » |
![]() Explorers carry MP flag to the Arcticnews“The Last Ice” is a project of exploration, adventure and science on some of the last frozen lakes of the northern hemisphere. A team of three athletes – climber and author Paku Crestas, entrepreneur and writer Albert Bosch and climber Pepe Ivars – with vast experience in extreme environments will... Read more » |
![]() MP members' statement for CSW62 acceptedpeak to peakIssue 113 – Month 3 – Year 2018 The March issue of Peak to Peak opens with a news about Mountain Parternship members' joint written statement being accepted for presentation during the upcoming 62nd session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW62). The newsletter continues with stories... Download » |
![]() Mountains and cities, rural-urban dynamicsnewsOn 5-8 February 2017, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) headquarters in Rome, Italy, hosted a workshop on rural-urban dynamics. The workshop “Feeding the cities: promoting food security and nutrition in an urbanizing world” was organized by the Università degli Studi di Roma ‘Tor... Read more » |
![]() Call for abstracts, Mountain Futures conferencenewsThe Centre for Mountain Ecosystem Studies, together with the Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences and World Agroforestry Centre would like to invite contributions for the second International Conference on Mountain Futures, with a focus on "Ecosystem Rhythms, Land Systems and Sustainable Livelihoods". The International Conference on Mountain Futures... Read more » |
![]() Mountain newspaper receives Energy Globe AwardnewsThe Kyrgyz National Energy Globe Award ceremony was held on 30 November 2017 in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. The team of the Aiyl Demi ("Rural Life") newspaper, the Kyrgyz national winner of the environmental award, was invited to the Austrian Embassy to receive its prize. During the ceremony, Michael Mueller, Commercial Councellor... Read more » |
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