Climate Change Adaptation in Mountains

A global community of practice to support and encourage communication and engagement between stakeholders working on climate change adaptation in mountains. Click to find out more about ongoing and upcoming work, or join one of our meetings!

Explore an analysis of available information on the vulnerability of hydrographic basins to climate change at the Andean continental level. The study analyzes seven basins, one for each Andean country, an includes a situational diagnosis and recommendations for reducing climate vulnerability in the Andes, as well as the identification of knowledge gaps and priority work issues for adaptation in the region.

Learn more about a recently published study on the state of the art of long-term social and environmental monitoring systems in the Andes. The study identified knowledge gaps and monitoring priorities, and provided a much-needed perspective of monitoring efforts in the region. 

Discover how community members in Jujuy Province, Argentina are working to improve the management of the precious water that enables them to graze llamas and other livestock in local wetlands and grasslands, and to grow crops to feed their families or sell on local markets, in this solution story.

This nexus brief synthesizes the findings of recent publications on mountains and climate change and looks at strategies for successful adaptation.  

This technical guidance document provides a structured and comprehensive approach to hazard assessment underpinned by latest scientific understanding. It has been produced as a resource for international and national agencies, responsible authorities and private companies. 

Learn about the SCA-Himalayas project which is addressing climate risks in the mountainous context, including landslides, floods and changes in water resource availability.

Delve into the data and trends of human populations in mountainous regions, and explore the associations between mountain populations and different environmental covariates. Findings may inform predictions of future mountain population distributions under scenarios of future climatic change.

The Tamlar Range Governance Simulation is an innovative approach to inter-regional exchange and learning developed in the context of the Adaptation at Altitude project

This report captures take-aways for interregional exchange, regional collaboration and advocacy for mountain areas from the Mountains Connect Interregional Workshop held in Vienna in June 2022.

Learn about how beekeeping has become both an alternative source of livelihood and a passion for mountain communities in Uganda in this solution story.

Explore this easy-to-read overview of the current state of multi-disciplinary mountain observations. Discover the different methods used to observe mountain environments, as well as the diversity of knowledge and data sources available to learn from.

The Mountains Connect Interregional Workshop brought together more than sixty participants from across the world's mountain regions to share and create new knowledge and experiences on adaptation and regional governance in mountain ranges.

Wikipedia is fast becoming the public’s go-to ‘first stop shop’ for information and is a resource that everyone can contribute to. This page provides resources and guidance for starting your journey as a Wikipedia editor.

Discover this Solution Story describing how global cooperation is helping mountain regions meet the growing threat from glacial lake outburst floods.

Why, despite the essential role mountains play in enabling countries and regions adapt to climate change, reduce disaster risks and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, are mountain communities often left behind economically and politically? Learn more in this issue brief.

This Solution Story describes how rainwater harvesting and greenhouses have been used to enhanced the resilience of smallholder farmers in the Colombian Andes.

The Mountains ADAPT: Solutions from the South Caucasus booklet showcases adaptation solutions proven to be successful in response to specific issues caused, or accelerated by, climate change that negatively affect mountain communities’ livelihoods and ecosystems. The publication covers Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia.

The Mountains ADAPT: Solutions from East Africa booklet showcases adaptation solutions proven to be successful in response to specific issues caused or accelerated by climate change that negatively affect mountain communities’ livelihoods and ecosystems. The publication includes Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, the United Republic of Tanzania and Uganda.

(Video) Following a teaser showcase of the “Last Glaciers” documentary and inspirational talk by the documentary's director, this event featured a series of talks and panel discussion exploring what is being done to support and upscale adaptation in mountainous regions internationally.

(Videos) This focus day on HKH, which was live streamed from the Cryosphere Pavilion at COP26, explored the scaling up of investment in mountain-specific climate priorities and low carbon development, the dissemination of high-impact solutions that can deliver climate action in the HKH region, and shared policy and youth perspectives on climate action. Watch the recordings of each session. 

In this case study, explore how glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) affect the countries in the Hindu Kush Himalayas.

This event video recording and summary explores what communities, governments and the East African Community are doing to adapt to climate change and promote transboundary cooperation. 

This paper reviews the trends and challenges of socioenvironmental monitoring in the mountains and proposes principles and ways of supporting, developing and connecting mountain observatories

This article introduces Essential Mountain Climate Variables (EMCVs) which could be used to increase the utility of mountainous environmental data to both fundamental science and decision making.

GEO Mountains seeks to identify, collate and make accessible transboundary and inter- and transdisciplinary data and information – from a variety of providers – pertaining to environmental, ecological, and societal change in mountainous regions globally.

The article analyzes how the actions promoted by the Andean Forests Program contributed to the well-being and resilience of the population in its intervention sites.

A new regional study on the current state of climate change policies and adaptation strategies in the Andes shows the achievements in seven Andean countries, and raises future prospects. 

Esta publicacion es un resumen del Conversatorio sobre “Políticas de Cambio Climático y las Estrategias de Adaptación en los Andes: una mirada multisectorial desde las montañas”. Read this article in English here.

This regional study aims to identify the knowledge gaps and working priorities for climate change adaptation in the Andes.

This article describes the first course of the IPROMO Mountains Training Programme held in Spanish. The course was organised by CONDESAN with the support of two initiatives financed by the Swiss Agency for Cooperation and Development (SDC).

This event recognised governance experiences of platforms in mountain areas of the world, identified opportunities for synergies at the regional and global level, and identified opportunities and collected inputs for strengthening the Andean Mountain Initiative through exchanges and training.

This event provided a platform for stakeholders from the Hindu Kush Himalaya to discuss how regional collaboration can deliver ambitious climate action in the region.

Esta publicacion trata del proyecto ‘El Último Glaciar de Venezuela’, una iniciativa que estudia el retroceso glaciar y la dinámica de formación de un nuevo ecosistema en la Sierra Nevada de Mérida, Venezuela. | This publication discusses glacial retreat and the dynamics of formation of a new ecosystem in the Sierra Nevada de Mérida, Venezuela. Contains a video documentary.

This brief presents a participatory process for assessing the status of water–energy–food systems in mountains, identifying governance and technical options and exploring alternative scenarios.

This issue brief presents initial steps towards localization of the 2030 Agenda to mountain areas.

This publication seeks to provide insights into the complex migration processes and the resulting opportunities and challenges for mountain communities and regions.

Esta publicacion es un resumen del Conversatorio sobre “Hacia una agenda de investigación para el monitoreo integrado de ecosistemas andinos: aportes para la sostenibilidad en escenarios de cambio ambiental”.

This publication presents the conclusions emerging from a joint learning journey involving three thematic networks – Climate Change and Environment, Disaster Risk Reduction, and Water.

This nexus brief explores the interactions between changes in the cryosphere due to climate change and the consequences for water resources and hazard management in Central Asia.

This technical guidance document provides a structured and comprehensive approach to hazard assessment underpinned by latest scientific understanding. It has been produced as a resource for international and national agencies, responsible authorities and private companies. 

This page brings together all the key publications (multiple languages) on Sustainable Mountain Development produced and/or funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and partners.

This publication highlights 15 cases of good practice in development and applied research from mountain regions, and illustrates how the Sendai Framework’s four priorities can be put into practice. 

The Indian Himalayas Climate Adaptation Programme works to strengthen climate science (especially glaciology and related areas) and capacities for climate change adaptation planning. 

This article explains a first-of-its kind mapping and capacity building initiative on climate vulnerability and risk assessment for the Indian Himalayan Region using a common framework

This study has been conducted in the framework of the SDC’s ‘Glacier Project+’ highlighting both potential risks and options from shrinking glaciers and growing lakes in the Southern Andes of Peru.

The Glaciology Curriculum provides access to 19 modules covering various aspects of glaciology, including the impacts of changing climate on glacier behavior and glacier hazards.

This Global Brief summarises SDC's activities regarding glacier melt and disaster risk reduction in Pakistan, Peru and China, and shows why Switzerland is recognised for its expertise in this field.