Declaration of COP-29 on climate change, mountains, and glaciers

A landmark declaration was presented by Kyrgyzstan at the 29th United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP29), which took place in Baku, Azerbaijan 11 – 22 November 2024.  It sounded the alarm on the devastating impacts of climate change on mountain ecosystems and glaciers. The declaration builds on the request to have a plenary discussion on mountains and climate change, that was submitted for two consecutive years to the UNFCCC COP but was not  approved.  

The declaration stems from the outcomes of COP28, including the Global Stocktake and on the first ever dialogue on mountains and climate change that took place at the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA60) in June 2024. Recognizing the critical role of mountains for billions globally, the declaration calls for urgent and coordinated action to address these pressing challenges. The Government of Kyrgyzstan has also advocated for the establishment of an annual dialogue to address these critical issues.  

The declaration recognizes that mountains are home to diverse and ancient cultures and rich biodiversity, and highly contribute to the world food, energy, and freshwater security. It notes that mountain cryosphere changes impact areas far from the mountains, even reaching the oceans, highlighting the interconnectedness of these systems. 

The declaration urges to integrate mountain issues into the UNFCCC agenda, acknowledging their vital role in climate regulation and sustainable development, not just for mountain populations but also for vast lowland areas. It establishes a set of common goals, which include integrating sustainable mountain development into climate policies, improving climate impact monitoring, and enhancing adaptation measures to safeguard mountain communities and ecosystems. It emphasizes the importance of inclusive decision-making, respect for indigenous knowledge, and sustainable resource management. Key priorities include disaster risk reduction, glacier preservation, scientific research, and capacity building, with a strong commitment to stakeholder collaboration to mainstream mountain issues and promote global cooperation for resilient development. 

The declaration is supported by 18 countries: Andorra, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bhutan, Colombia, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Mongolia, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Peru, Russian Federation, Slovenia, Switzerland and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of). 

As Mountain Partnership Secretariat, we hope that this declaration will pave the way to secure an agenda item on mountains at the next COP30 to discuss and identify collective initiatives to safeguard  and ensure a sustainable future for all.