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.
Multimedia on policy recommendations for SMD in the AndesnewsDuring the Regional Workshop Post-Rio +20 "Sustainable Mountain Development: Building the future we need" held on November 12-14 in Lima, Peru, the Consortium for Sustainable Development of the Andean Ecoregion (CONDESAN) launched a multimedia which containing key information and policy recommendations for sustainable mountain development in the Andes. The...
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CELA-BMI Conference: “Climate Change and Sustainable Development in the Mountain Regions of Bolivia”newsThe Conference "Climate change and sustainable development in the mountain regions of Bolivia" was held on 21 August 2012, in the city of La Paz, Bolivia. The event was organized by Institute of Socio-Economics, Catholic University (IISEC) and Bolivian Mountain Institute (BMI), as part of the international network CELA Project...
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Second Mountain Day held at UNFCCC in DohanewsMountain Day 2 “Mainstreaming Rio+20 outcomes in the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) processes for prosperous, resilient, and sustainable mountain ecosystems and communities” was held in Doha, Qatar, on 3 December 2012, on the sidelines of the 2012 UN Climate Change Conference. The strong negative impact of...
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Ecuador presents National Strategy on Climate Change 2012-2025newsThe Minister of Environment of Ecuador, Marcela Aquiñaga, has presented the National Strategy on Climate Change. The strategy proposes, among other things, to step up efforts to conserve forest resources, mangroves and paramos, supporting and promoting energy efficiency, improving environmental practices and reducing consumption of resources. Please see complete information in...
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UNU-WIDER Conference on Climate Change and Development PolicyeventThe UN University (UNU) and World Institute for Development Economics Research (WIDER) Conference on "Climate Change and Development Policy" aims to reflect on how to balance climate and development objectives. The conference will evaluate how research can inform development policy and identify existing knowledge gaps. Researchers and policy makers will...
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Inter-Religious Dialogue on Climate ChangeeventThe Inter-Religious Dialogue on Climate Change, organized by the International Network of Engaged Buddhist (INEB), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Sewalanka Foundation, will be held in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka, from 23 to 27 September 2012. The Conference is one component of a larger programme identified...
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