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.
Global research call on Climate ChangenewsThe Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) launched its second global research call. CDKN supports developing countries to deliver climate compatible development, offering advice and technical assistance, cutting-edge research, strategic knowledge sharing and partnership building. CDKN seeks to fund research of the highest scientific standards aimed to provide a robust... Read more » |
UNESCO conference calls for better protection of biological diversity when mitigating climate changenewsOn 28 June, some 280 high-level experts from 80 countries attending an international conference in Dresden, Germany approved a declaration claiming for better protection of biological diversity when mitigating climate change. The two-day conference was organized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the German Ministry for... Read more » |
Innovation in mountain areas: 4th European Biennial of Mountain RegionsnewsThe Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Vosges is organizing the 4th European Biennial of Mountain Regions, which will take place from 13 to 14 October 2011 in Gérardmer (Vosges), France. The focus will be on "Innovation in mountain areas". Various threats undermine European mountain regions, i.e. climate change, land... Read more » |
Call for Proposals: Review of and strategy development for communications and social learning in climate changenewsThe Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS), together with the Earth Science Partnership, has launched a call for proposals for a review of and strategy development for climate change communications and social learning in climate change. The objective of this... Read more » |
Study on 800-year-old tree rings backs global warming in the North American CordilleranewsA study on tree rings in western North America gives evidence of global warming. The study has been carried out by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and University of Washington and published on Science. Scientists sampled thousands trees at 66 sites (including 800-year-old exemplars) in key runoff-generating areas of the... Read more » |
Climate Change threatens a fragile ecosystem in the AndesnewsRecent studies by the Antioquia Engineering School in Colombia revealed the Páramo, a fragile ecosystem in the Andes, is extremely threatened by climate change. The Páramo is located above the highest part of the tree belt and the perpetual snow in the Andes of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela. It... Read more » |
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