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.
![]() 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 » |
![]() International Conference on Snow Hydrology “SnowHydro”eventThe purpose of the SnowHydro conference is to present recent research findings in all areas of snow hydrology, to facilitate scientific discussions and to provide opportunities for collaboration and cooperation. The conference shall attract scientists, students and other professionals with different geographic origin and scientific background. The participation of early... Read more » |
![]() Central Asia Climate Change ConferenceeventThe Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Program for Aral Sea Basin (CAMP4ASB) project was launched in 2016 to support the countries of Central Asia to enhance regionally coordinated access to improved climate change knowledge services as well as to increased investments and capacity building, that combined will address climate challenges across... Read more » |
![]() Global Meeting concludes, new momentum for MPpeak to peakIssue 112 – Month 1 – Year 2018 The January issue of Peak to Peak shares with readers an overview of the fifth Global Meeting of the Mountain Partnership, held in Rome, Italy on 11-13 December 2017. The newsletter continues with stories about the fifth edition of the Forum... Download » |
![]() “Resilient Hindu Kush Himalaya” closesnewsAfter four days of discussion on resilience issues in the Hindu Kush Himalaya, Nepal’s Ministry of Population and the Environment and the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) closed the international conference “Resilient Hindu Kush Himalaya: Developing Solutions towards a Sustainable Future for Asia” on... Read more » |
![]() 15 years of Mountain PartnershippublicationThis publication celebrates the work of the Mountain Partnership - the only United Nations alliance dedicated to improving the lives of mountain communities and their ecosystems - over 15 years. It profiles key players, charts the achievements at global, regional and national level, and showcases success stories around the world.... Download » |
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