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.
![]() MP's dialogue highlights sustainable food systems in mountainsnewsThe diversity of mountain food systems and the role of mountain people as custodians of knowledge and agrobiodiversity were highlighted in an Independent Dialogue organized by the Mountain Partnership Secretariat to inform the first-ever UN Food Systems Summit. This milestone Summit, which will take place in New York in September... Read more » |
![]() Dare to bee: Understanding bees, well-being and sustainability - World Bee DayeventIn celebration of World Bee Day on 20 May 2021, the Central Himalayan Institute for Nature and Applied Research (CHINAR) in partnership with VToujours will host a webinar to explore the current state of bees' habitats. The virtual event will discuss solutions being implemented by different actors around the world for the... Read more » |
![]() Mountains and sustainable food systems: Drivers of sustainable developmenteventAs a contribution to the UN Food Systems Summit 2021, the Mountain Partnership Secretariat will host an independent dialogue on "Mountains and sustainable food systems: Drivers of sustainable development" on 18 May. The dialogue aims to show the specificity of mountain food systems as well as generate innovative and... Read more » |
![]() Highlighting the sustainable management of mountain grasslandsnewsGrasslands cover 15.9 percent of the area of the 28 countries of the European Union (EU-28) and represent the third most dominant ecosystem in Europe as well as one of the most widespread habitats in mountains. Besides being central to food production, mountain grasslands deliver a number of public goods... Read more » |
![]() IPROMO 2021 call for applications: Post COVID-19 recovery in mountain areaspeak to peakThe May 2021 issue of Peak to Peak announces the call for applications for the fourteenth annual IPROMO Summer School, this year to focus on "Post COVID-19 recovery in mountain areas." Members' Voices features a blog post from the Feminist Hiking Collective sharing reflections from the mountain women that participated in their global Earth Day... Download » |
![]() Highlighting sustainable food systems in mountains for the UN Food Systems Summit 2021publicationAs a contribution to the discussion on sustainable food systems in mountains in the lead up to the 2021 UN Food Systems Summit, an info sheet has been developed by the Mountain Partnership Secretariat and Theresa Tribaldos, Centre for Development and Environment. Mountain agriculture and food production sustain the livelihoods of... Download » |
Mountain Partnership
| Our work
| Focus areas
| Follow Us Subscribe to Peak to Peak Newsletter
|