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.
![]() Water: The present and future of food security and nutrition in the context of climate changeeventThis international meeting will analyze Andean experiences on water management and climate change adaptation measures in agriculture, their impacts on food security and nutrition, and public policy advocacy. Meeting participants in Peru aim to identify and propose strategies to implement agricultural policies that integrate risk management and climate change adaptation,... Read more » |
United Nations General Assembly Report: Sustainable mountain development (2013)publicationReport of the Secretary-General on Sustainable Mountain Development Download » |
![]() The Hamburg Conference: Actions for Climate Induced MigrationeventThe Hamburg Conference: Actions for Climate Induced Migration takes place in Hamburg, Germany, 16-18 July, and aims to bring together top scientists, experts, practitioners and decision-makers to share evidence-based knowledge and experiences on climate-Induced migration. The conference's four theematic streams are Climate-Induced Migration and Urbanization, Climate-Induced Migration and Rural Livelihoods, Climate-Induced... Read more » |
![]() Third International High Mountain Glacial Watershed Conferenceevent
The 3rd International High Mountain Glacial Watershed Conference will bring together scientists, practitioners, decision makers, and other stakeholders from the Andes, Asia, and the rest of the world to experience the “living laboratory” of the Peruvian Andes. Unlike past conferences, this event will focus on learning through a series of... Read more » |
![]() Alpine Summer School: Climate Change and the Mountain EnvironmenteventClimate Change and the Mountain Environment is the topic of this year's Italian-French Alpine Summer School on Fundamental Processes in Geophysical Fluid Dynamics and the Climate System in Valsavarenche, Italy, 18-28 June. The summer school is organized by the Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate - CNR (Italy) and the Centre... Read more » |
![]() Climate Change and Migration in Mountain Areas WorkshopeventThe 2nd workshop on Climate Change and Migration in Mountain Areas will take place 28-29 May 2013 at the University of Neuchatel in Switzerland. It will aim to bring together scholars with a strong interest in migration and climate change in mountain areas, covering the world’s major mountain ranges, including... Read more » |
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