-(7)d2e024afca604f3788012b27e3fd38d9.png?sfvrsn=33806b41_0 "Himalaya Sherpa village, Nepal")
Mountains, often called the "water towers" of the world, provide vital freshwater for billions of people and play a critical role in sustaining ecosystems, agriculture, energy production and livelihoods.
Glaciers are crucial to many mountain ecosystems, with nearly 70 percent of Earth’s freshwater stored as snow or ice. Runoff from glaciers, snow and ice is essential for drinking water, agriculture, industry and clean energy production.
Glaciers are sensitive indicators of climate change and are retreating globally due to rising temperatures. Their loss will strongly impact key economic sectors, including power generation, tourism and agriculture, while potentially increasing water conflicts, migration and downstream hazards.
Climate and changes in the cryosphere affect the water cycle by altering the amount and timing of glacier melt and snowmelt discharge, groundwater recharge and low flows, all contributing to sea level rise. As glaciers shrink, water availability is expected to decrease, especially in seasonally dry regions, leading to greater competition for water resources.
Mountain freshwater is indispensable for food security, particularly for rural mountain communities, which are among the most food-insecure populations. As of 2017, half of rural mountain dwellers in developing countries lived in areas where local food availability was at risk of falling below healthy living standards. This vulnerability is further exacerbated by the impacts of climate change on agricultural systems that depend on mountain water resources.
Glacial retreat, thawing permafrost and shifts in snow cover are reshaping mountain landscapes and increasing the risk of natural disasters like glacier lake outburst floods and landslides, threatening infrastructure, communities, cultural traditions and tourism.
In recognition of the urgency to safeguard glaciers, the United Nations has declared 2025 as the International Year of Glaciers' Preservation, accompanied by the proclamation of 21 March as the World Day for Glaciers, starting in 2025.
Despite glaciers’ critical role, national adaptation policies often overlook glacier-related challenges. Yet, there is still time to protect and preserve glaciers through emission reductions and transformative adaptation and mitigation strategies. Integrating Indigenous Peoples’ knowledge with Earth observations and scientific insights can provide a comprehensive approach to policy and response measure decisions. Youth climate action can also be key in driving change and leading the way forward.
The 18th annual IPROMO summer school, hosted by the Mountain Partnership Secretariat (MPS), the University of Turin, the University of Tuscia, and the National Research Council - Research Institute for Hydrogeological Prevention and Protection (CNR-IRPI), in collaboration with the town of Ormea, will focus on glaciers' preservation and the impacts of climate change on this ecosystem. The course will offer participants a comprehensive understanding of sustainable mountain development, emphasizing innovative strategies to protect glaciers, mitigate climate impacts and build resilience in mountain communities.
Objectives
The IPROMO 2025 Summer School will focus on adaptation strategies, policies, tools and skills that promote sustainable development and resilience in mountain areas.
Designed for young and mid-career professionals, this year’s course aims to equip participants with the knowledge and resources needed to address the unique challenges faced by mountain ecosystems and communities, particularly in light of climate change and its impact on glaciers.
Lectures will explore climate change in mountain regions, glaciers' preservation and their critical contributions to mountain ecosystems and communities. The course will emphasize the interlinkages of glaciers with food security, biodiversity and livelihoods in these regions.
Expected outcomes
By the end of the course, participants will have a deep understanding of glaciers' preservation, cryosphere components and their fragility in mountain areas, and a broader perspective on sustainable mountain development.
IPROMO graduates will become part of a unique alumni network of mountain researchers and practitioners, fostering future collaborations and synergies.
Structure and venue
The summer school will take place in person in two charming Italian alpine villages: Ormea in northwest Italy and Pieve Tesino in the northeast, with field trips to nearby areas. The course will accommodate about 30 participants, selected among officers, researchers and technicians working on mountain and cryosphere issues from around the world.
Participants will arrive on 23 June 2025, with activities beginning on 24 June 2025, including an overview of the course. The summer school will end on 8 July 2025 with a closing ceremony.
The course will include lectures, seminars, group work and field trips, led by experts from the United Nations system, universities, international organizations and non-governmental organizations.
Given the challenging mountain environment, participants must demonstrate a high level of adaptability.
The activities in Pieve Tesino will be supported by the Centre of Alpine Studies at the University of Tuscia, the City of Pieve Tesino, the Community of Valsugana and Tesino, and the Autonomous Province of Trento.
In Ormea, the activities will be supported by the City of Ormea and organized by the University of Turin's Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences (DISAFA), the Interdepartmental Research Centre on Natural Risks in Mountain and Hilly Environments (NatRisk), and the National Research Council - Research Institute for Hydrogeological Prevention and Protection (CNR-IRPI).
Basic information
Requirements:
To apply for IPROMO 2025, please submit the application form by 21 February, 2025.
