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.
![]() Ecuador presents National Strategy on Climate Change 2012-2025newsThe Minister of Environment of Ecuador, Marcela Aquiñaga, has presented the National Strategy on Climate Change. The strategy proposes, among other things, to step up efforts to conserve forest resources, mangroves and paramos, supporting and promoting energy efficiency, improving environmental practices and reducing consumption of resources. Please see complete information in... Read more » |
![]() UNU-WIDER Conference on Climate Change and Development PolicyeventThe UN University (UNU) and World Institute for Development Economics Research (WIDER) Conference on "Climate Change and Development Policy" aims to reflect on how to balance climate and development objectives. The conference will evaluate how research can inform development policy and identify existing knowledge gaps. Researchers and policy makers will... Read more » |
![]() Inter-Religious Dialogue on Climate ChangeeventThe Inter-Religious Dialogue on Climate Change, organized by the International Network of Engaged Buddhist (INEB), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Sewalanka Foundation, will be held in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka, from 23 to 27 September 2012. The Conference is one component of a larger programme identified... Read more » |
Climate change adaptation: CAMP Alatoo experiencenewsThe Public Foundation ‘CAMP Alatoo” has been actively engaged in capacity building work for Central Asian communities for increasing their resilience and adaptation to changing climate. Below we provide some highlights for climate change adaptation related activities undertaken in the region: September 2011- August 2012: Jointly with the Swiss National Center... Read more » |
Адаптация к изменению климата: опыт САМР АлатооnewsОбщественный фонд «САМР Алатоо» активно содействует повышению потенциала стран Центральной Азии по адаптации к изменению климата. С этой целью проводятся различные мероприятия и проекты, в которые вовлекаются как простые фермеры, так и представители государственных и научных учреждений: САМР Alatoo совместно со Швейцарской научно-исследовательской программой NCCR и Кыргызко-Русско-Славянским Университетом реализовал демонстрационный проект... Read more » |
![]() IUCN World Conservation Congress 2012eventThe Congress theme will be Nature+, a slogan that captures the fundamental importance of nature and its inherent link to every aspect of people's lives. The Congress will explore many of the most pressing environmental and development challenges from this perspective and how strong and resilient nature is intricately linked... Read more » |
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