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.
![]() Genetic conservation initiatives in mountain areas promote climate resiliencenewsIndigenous Peoples and local communities engage in vital efforts to preserve plant genetic resources (PGR) at their centres of origin, ensuring the conservation of diversity. However, there lacks a standardized system for preserving PGR on Indigenous Peoples' and local communities' land. On 23 November 2023, experts working on the ground presented... Read more » |
![]() Responding to climate change in the mountains: Opportunities for parliamentarians to actpublicationMountains are vital ecosystems, providing freshwater for half of the world's population, hosting rich biodiversity and holding cultural significance for communities across the world. Climate change impacts mountains acutely. Rapid temperature warming and melting glaciers, more frequent and intense natural hazards and changing precipitation patterns have severe impacts on mountain... Download » |
![]() Cultivating change with innovation and technology at Expo Doha Qatar 2023newsAgrobiodiversity and innovation took centre stage at a dynamic workshop in the Italian Pavilion at Expo Doha Qatar 2023 on 22 November 2023. This workshop, organized by the Mountain Partnership Secretariat (MPS) and the Italian Trade Agency (ICE), showcased new technologies and innovative initiatives focused on agrobiodiversity. Speakers provided concrete... Read more » |
![]() Expo 2023 Doha: Agrobiodiversity and innovation workshopeventAs part of the GROW - Agrobiodiversity in a Changing Climate course, this workshop, hosted at the Italian Pavilion in Expo 2023 Doha, will showcase innovative initiatives and technology applications focused on agrobiodiversity as potential solutions for addressing food insecurity. It will explore the potential of leveraging artificial intelligence... Read more » |
![]() Webinar "Mountains, parliaments, and the Global Goal on Adaptation: preparing for COP 28"eventFollowing the success of International Mountain Day webinars in 2020, 2021 and 2022, the Inter-Parliamentary Union and Adaptation at Altitude programme are pleased to present another joint event ahead of the COP 28 with the theme of reaching adaptation goals in the mountains. Climate change is bringing considerable challenges to... Read more » |
![]() The Canadian Mountain AssessmentpublicationThe Canadian Mountain Assessment provides a first-of-its-kind look at what we know, do not know, and need to know about mountains in Canada. It is based on insights from Indigenous knowledges of mountains, as well as findings from an extensive assessment of pertinent academic literature. The Canadian Mountain Assessment's inclusive... Download » |
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