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.
Third issue of International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme’s Global Change magazinenewsThe third issue of International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme's (IGBP) Global Change magazine is out now. Articles in this issue focus on a range of topics, including the UN's Global Sustainability Panel, South American palaeoclimate, Geoengineering and Ocean Acidification. The regulars include news from the IGBP and global-change communities. The magazine is...
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Women’s Water Fund Call for Applications – visit/study in Denmark 30 April – 15 May 2011newsThe Women’s Water Fund, an initiative of the DHI (Danish Hydraulic Institute) Group initially funded by the “King Hassan II Great World Water Prize”, invites women from developing countries in Africa, Asia or Latin America to apply for a short capacity building visit from 30 April to 15 May 2011,...
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Three quarters of the Alpine glaciers could melt by 2100, says study by Nature GeosciencenewsAccording to two studies published by the review Nature Geoscience, the 75 percent of the Alpine glaciers could disappear by the end of 2100 and a rise of several metres in sea level could be produced by 3000, due to the global warming. According to a study carried out by...
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European Geosciences Union (EGU) General Assembly on “Mountain hydrology: Observations, processes and models” - 3– 8 April 2011, ViennanewsThe forthcoming European Geosciences Union General Assembly (HS2.12) will take place in Vienna on 3 to 8 April 2011. Contributions on mountain hydrology related issues are welcomed from all mountain regions of the world. Deadline for the abstract submission through EGU's online system is 10 January 2011. For financial support...
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United Nations General Assembly Resolution: Sustainable Mountain Development (2010)publicationResolution adopted by the General Assembly on Sustainable mountain development at the 64th Session. A/RES/64/205
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United Nations General Assembly Resolution: Sustainable Mountain Development (2008)publicationResolution adopted by the General Assembly on Sustainable mountain development at the 60th Session. A/RES/62/196
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