Climate change action in developing countries with fragile mountainous ecosystems
- Geographical scope: The Hindu-Kush Himalaya, Carpathian, Central Asian, South Caucasus, Tropical Andean and Western Balkan mountains.
- Time frame: 2014-2019.
- Priority area: Climate change
- Partners: Austrian Development Agency, GRID-Arendal, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the International Atomic Energy Agency. Depending on the region, we partner with the Consortium for Sustainable Development of the Andean Ecoregion, the Caucasus Network for Sustainable Development of Mountain Regions (Sustainable Caucasus), the University of Central Asia, and the Albertine Rift Conservation Society network.
- Donors: Government of Austria.
- Contribution to SDGs: SDG 13 on Climate Action, and SDG 15 for Life on Land.
Environmental challenge
Mountain regions occupy about one-quarter of the Earth’s land surface and are home to 15% of the world’s population. Their influence extends far beyond their ranges: they provide goods and services, most notably water, to over half the global population – making them not only crucial for people living in mountains, but also for those living downstream.
Mountain societies are experiencing a disproportionately high number of disasters compared to other environments and the need to adapt is becoming an urgent task, as landslides, melting glaciers, vector-borne diseases, drought and other issues linked to climate change take their toll. In the tropical Andes, for example, farmers have had to move their potatoes uphill by about 150 metres in the last 30 years to avoid the heat.
While the world is becoming increasingly aware of the impact of climate change on different ecosystems, current policies offer a very limited focus on the importance of climate change adaptation in mountainous regions.
Project
A series of publications have been prepared to guide policymakers on climate adaptation for mountain regions. These look at the state and trends of climate change, the vulnerability of mountain ecosystems and the existing policy gaps, and they also issue recommendations. For the first time, these publications take a regional approach and cover Central Asia, East Africa, the South Caucasus, the Tropical Andes and the Western Balkans.
The aim of the overall project is to promote regional understanding and ensure a joint dialogue on mountain ecosystems in the context of climate change and adaptation. These dialogues are taking place at regional level and best-practices are being shared at the global level.
News and stories
- On World Mountain Day, looking at climate change adaptation in some of the world's most majestic ranges
- New Mountain Adaptation Outlooks launched at COP 21: UN and partners call for immediate measures to strengthen climate adaptation efforts
Publications
- Outlook on climate change adaptation in the Carpathian mountains
- Outlook on climate change adaptation in the Central Asian mountains (RUS)
- Outlook on climate change adaptation in the Hindu Kush Himalaya
- Outlook on Climate Change Adaptation in the South Caucasus Mountains
- Outlook on climate change adaptation in the Tropical Andes mountains
- Outlook on climate change adaptation in the Western Balkan mountains
Any questions?
For more information please contact matthias.jurek@un.org
