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.
Restauración de ecosistemas y medios de vida resilientes para reducir el riesgo climático en montañas del PerúpublicationLa presente nota de orientación explora el Enfoque de Reducción de Riesgo de Catástrofes basado en Ecosistemas. Se presta especial atención a las cadenas de valor sostenibles y a la gestión forestal participativa como un método eficaz para fortalecer la adaptación y la resiliencia al cambio climático. Se describe la...
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Local efforts for ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction and resilient forest livelihoods in the mountain watersheds of the PhilippinespublicationThis policy brief explores the willingness of local authorities to strengthen adaptation and resilience to climate change while improving social well-being and economic development. It presents forest restoration and sustainable agricultural practices, institutionalized yet led by communities, as effective methods for reducing risks, improving the resilience of farmer communities and... Download » |
Global leaders convene in Dushanbe to discuss why glaciers’ preservation mattersnewsGlaciers and their critical role to freshwater supply, agriculture, industry and energy were discussed during the high-level glaciers forum for the International Year of Glaciers' Preservation 2025. The Government of Tajikistan in cooperation with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) hosted the International Glacier Forum on 10 June...
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Side event: Human mobility in the context of climate change in mountain areas – evidence, gaps and prioritieseventThe International Organization for Migration will be hosting a side event at the 3rd High-Level International Conference on International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development”, 2018-2028 in Dushanbe, Republic of Tajikistan. The event will be a moderated discussion held in person on 11 June (time and location to be confirmed). The event will...
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New hydroponic garden paves the way for experimentation on better resource management in soil-less agriculturenewsThe Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and La Sapienza University of Rome have further consolidated their research collaboration in the field of sustainable agriculture with the inauguration of a hydroponic garden on the FAO terrace, the result of the study of new water-based growing techniques. The innovative...
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IISD report on UNFCCC expert dialogue on mountainsnewsAs the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has concluded, every increment of global warming matters. Climate change impacts will be vastly different at 2°C of warming compared to 1.5°C. This is especially true for mountain ecosystems. On Wednesday, an expert dialogue focused on exactly this topic, discussing impacts, research gaps,...
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