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.
Season 2 of “Voices from the Roof of the World” out nownewsAlarms are ringing throughout the world: the most ruinous floods in Pakistan's history, the worst drought in a generation in East Africa, Everest base camp turned from a frigid outpost to a lakeside camp. These are all signs that climate change is accelerating. Ian Fry, the UN Special Rapporteur on... Read more » |
![]() 2022 State of the Cryosphere Report online nownewsOn 7 November 2022, the International Cryosphere Climate Initiative (ICCI) released the 2022 State of the Cryosphere Report at the 27th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. Released annually, the Report takes the pulse of the... Read more » |
![]() Women Move Mountains photo contest openspeak to peakThe November 2022 issue of Peak to Peak announces the opening of the International Mountain Day 2022 photo contest, "Women move mountains". Top news stories spotlight countries' mountain advocacy efforts in Nepal and Romania and continue with updates on Mountain Partnership members' projects in Ecuador and Tajikistan. Peak to Peak... Download » |
![]() Mustang Advocacy Summit participants endorse the Mustang DeclarationnewsOn 20-21 September 2022, national governments, international agencies, and Mountain Partnership members joined together in Nepal for the Mustang Advocacy Summit (MAS 2022) to raise awareness about the impact of climate change in mountain regions. The objective of the Summit was to draw attention to the issues and challenges faced... Read more » |
![]() “Minga” for the sustainable development of mountains in EcuadornewsOn 13 September 2022, the Community of Practice Minga de la Montaña (Minga of the Mountain) was launched in Latacunga, Ecuador, with the participation of 120 people. Minga is a tradition of several Indigenous Peoples of South America that stands for community and collaborative work for purposes of social utility or... Read more » |
![]() Global Meeting provides new momentum for mountainspeak to peakThe October 2022 issue of Peak to Peak shares the highlights from the recent Sixth Global Meeting of the Mountain Partnership held on 26-29 September 2022 in Aspen, United States of America. Top news stories include an overview of the high-level discussion on mountains hosted by the Government of Kyrgyzstan... Download » |
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