UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres calls on mountain countries to take bold action on climate change mitigation and adaption
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Mountains and climate change
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.
EU-DFID programme helps NepalnewsThis joint EU-DFID programme should help the Government of Nepal to integrate climate change considerations into its development planning, as well as in its implementation of concrete measures at the local level to help rural communities adapt to the consequences of climate change. The programme will also support...
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Climber Apa Sherpa to take climate message on "unique" Himalayan treknewsApa Sherpa, who has climbed Mount Everest a record 21 times, together with two-time Everest climber Dawa Steven Sherpa, will trek 1,700 km along some of the world's highest mountains to highlight the impact of climate change on the Himalayas. In their 120-day walk, they will pass along...
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Mountain Plants Disappear as Climate WarmsnewsA new study says that a warming climate is having a more profound effect on the world's mountain
Photo (c) Giovanni / Flickr
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CIPRA report "Water in climate change" now releasednewsThe latest CIPRA background report on "Water in climate change" has been released. The publication includes reports showing the effects from climate change to water utility, as well as political instruments and good practice examples. Water streaming down from Alpine rivers supplies more than 170 millions of people....
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Zero-draft for Rio+20 – paragraph n. 94 on mountainsnewsThe zero-draft of the outcome document for Rio+20 Conference is now online with a paragraph (n.94) dedicated to mountains. The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) Conference will take place on 20-22 June 2012 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to mark the 20th anniversary of the 1992...
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Everest must be put on United Nations danger listnewsMount Everest must be put on the United Nations endangered list because of the impacts of climate change, say campaigners urging the UNESCO World Heritage Committee. The initiative is organised by Pro Public (Friends of the Earth Nepal) and the Climate Justice Programme, and supported by Friends of...
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