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.
![]() UNFCCC COP 23 and Mountain Partnership side eventseventAt the 23rd Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP 23), on 6-17 November 2017, nations of the world will meet to advance the aims and ambitions of the Paris Agreement and achieve progress on its implementation guidelines. The conference will take... Read more » |
![]() 6th International Symposium for Research in Protected AreaseventNational Parks Austria and Hohe Tauern National Park will host the 6th International Symposium for Research in Protected Areas at the Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Salzburg, Austria. Researchers and protected areas managers, as well as individuals from government, business, non-governmental organizations and the public who are interested in... Read more » |
![]() Mountains to be featured at UNFCCC COP 23peak to peakIssue 110 – Month 11 – Year 2017 The November issue of Peak to Peak announces the two side events organized within the framework of the Mountain Partnership that will take place during the 23rd session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 23) to the United Nations Framework... Download » |
![]() Mountains to be featured at UNFCCC COP 23newsTo ensure that mountains are recognized in the processes of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Mountain Partnership members are organizing two side events during the 23rd session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 23) to the UNFCCC on 6-17 November 2017 in Bonn, Germany. Mountain... Read more » |
![]() New programme and course on mountain EbAnewsThe Mountain Institute (TMI) launched its new Mountain Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) Programme, which seeks to increase the use of ecosystem-based approaches to help mountain communities adapt to climate change. The three-year programme will expand the use of nature-based solutions in key mountain areas of Nepal, Peru and Uganda... Read more » |
![]() Plateau Perspectives documentary showing on TVnewsA documentary film about the Mountain Partnership member Plateau Perspectives’ work in the Sanjiangyuan Region of China is now showing on the television network Hong Kong Television. Developed over the last few years, the 24-minute video presents the rich experiences and the beautiful natural and cultural landscapes of... Read more » |
Mountain Partnership
| Our work
| Focus areas
| Follow Us Subscribe to Peak to Peak Newsletter
|