Each day, one of every two people on the planet quenches his thirst with water that originates in mountains. And as the world population swells to an estimated 9.6 billion by 2050, the worldwide demand for freshwater will continue to soar.
More than half of humanity relies on mountain freshwater for everyday life. The ten largest rivers originating in the Hindu Kush Himalayas alone supply water to over 1.35 billion people. Some of the world’s largest cities, including New York, Rio de Janeiro, Nairobi, Tokyo and Melbourne, are dependent on freshwater from mountains.
Climate change is already causing more than 600 glaciers to disappear, resulting in springs and rivers drying up. Greater frequency of extreme weather events, droughts and floods, including flash floods and glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), are also expected to increase in mountains, causing imbalance between current water supply and demand.
Given the importance of mountain water resources worldwide, the careful management of mountain water resources is a global priority. Water management practices need to be adapted to different climatic zones, using locally adapted soil and water management techniques. Most importantly, watershed management must take into account the needs of all those who depend on mountain water, including those who have the greatest stake in preserving healthy mountain ecosystems – people who live in mountain areas themselves, who are often marginalized from the decision-making processes.
![]() International Year of Mountains closing ceremony starts a new era for actionpeak to peakThe May 2023 issue of Peak to Peak opens with a summary of the closing ceremony of the International Year of Sustainable Mountain Development 2022. Top news stories cover the launch of a new joint publication on mountain tourism by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, World... Download » |
![]() Meet the Steering Committee: GRID-Arendal, Representative of Global Major Group OrganizationsnewsThe Mountain Partnership is guided by an 18-member Steering Committee that represents the diversity of the entire membership and ensures geographic representation. A new Steering Committee is elected approximately every four years. Most recently, elections were held in September 2022 during the sixth Global Meeting of the Mountain Partnership. In this new series, we...
|
![]() MP members call for attention to mountains and the cryosphere at the UN 2023 Water Conferencepeak to peakThe April 2023 issue of Peak to Peak shares the highlights of the Mountain Partnership's activities at the United Nations 2023 Water Conference. Top news stories cover the Mountain Women of the World Network's summit of Mount Aconcagua, a Mountain Partnership side event at the 67th session of the Commission... Download » |
![]() MP members call for attention to mountains and the cryosphere at the UN 2023 Water ConferencenewsMountains are the world's water towers – providing water to both people living in the mountains and to around 2 billion people living in connected lowland areas. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically Target 6.6, recognize mountains' important role, calling for the protection and restoration of water-related ecosystems, including mountains,... Read more » |
![]() Advancing sustainable mountain development: Water towers for people and the planet (UN 2023 Water Conference virtual side event)eventMountains are of paramount importance as the world's water towers – both for people in the mountains and for around 2 billion people living in connected lowland areas. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically Target 6.6, recognise mountains' important role, calling for the protection and restoration of water-related ecosystems, including... Read more » |
![]() Advancing sustainable mountain development recognized as a commitment of action ahead of the UN 2023 Water Conferencepeak to peakThe March 2023 issue of Peak to Peak highlights a commitment of action titled "Advancing sustainable mountain development and protecting the 'water towers' of the world" submitted by the Mountain Partnership Secretariat ahead of the UN 2023 Water Conference. Top news stories announce the call for applications for IPROMO 2023,... Download » |
Mountain Partnership
| Our work
| Focus areas
| Follow Us Subscribe to Peak to Peak Newsletter
|