Climate change

Mountains are under threat from climate change, with potentially far-reaching and devastating consequences for the world.

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.

As the world heats up, mountain glaciers are melting at unprecedented rates, while rare plants and animals struggle to survive in ever-diminishing areas. Mountain communities, already among the world’s poorest, face even greater hardships.

Changes in the volume of mountain glaciers and in their seasonal melting patterns impact 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 and elaborate treaties such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. In addition, local community empowerment can be an essential step towards building climate change resilience in mountain regions.