Water
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.
More power for women in water decisions needednewsThe climate threat is real, but its impacts on water resources are further compounded by socioeconomic and demographic pressures, especially on women. This is the reality today in Koshi River basin in the Himalayas. Researchers, policy makers, and development practitioners in China, India and Nepal need to actively collaborate to...
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Our Journey in 2015: Mountain Partnership Secretariat Annual ReportpublicationThe Mountain Partnership Secretariat (MPS) outlines its key achievements in promoting sustainable mountain development (SMD) in its 2015 annual report. The annual report describes the Secretariat’s work in advocacy, communication and knowledge management, promoting International Mountain Day, brokering joint action and leading capacity development initiatives. One of the its most... Download » |
A Year-long Ascent: Mountain Partnership Secretariat Annual Report 2014publicationThe Mountain Partnership Secretariat (MPS) reflects its key achievements in promoting sustainable mountain development (SMD) in its 2014 annual report. Using mountain climbing as an analogy to facing SMD challenges, the annual report outlines its work in advocacy, communication and knowledge management, promoting International Mountain Day, brokering joint action and... Download » |
Water in the AlpsnewsAlpine water is the source of life for millions of people inside and outside the Alps. The traditional biannual Water Conference for the Alps took place on 24-25 September 2014 in Trento, Italy. It focused on climate change, also taking into account extreme events (such as floods and sediment transport) and...
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UN diplomats zero in on mountain targetspeak to peakIssue 69 - Month 5 - Year 2014 Our new issue of Peak to Peak opens with news about a meeting held at the Permanent Mission of Romania to the UN, where diplomats discussed mountain-related targets and indicators to propose for the sustainable development goals. We also... Download » |
Water and ecosystems, most pertinent to mountainsnewsDiplomats representing 15 governments and heads of several US-based Major Groups decided on 29 April 2014 that the mountain agenda should hone in on two succinct but compelling arguments for the 11th session of the UN Open Working Group (OWG) on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). During a meeting hosted by...
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