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A new publication maps the retreat of Andean glaciers and the associated loss of the glacier meltwater relied upon by millions – and proposes several measures to address this imminent challenge. MRI SLC member Mathias Vuille was among those in Chile earlier this month to celebrate the launch of the Spanish version of this important resource. From 24-25 January 2019, nearly 100 scientists, students, practitioners, representatives from NGO’s, and policy- and decision-makers from Andean countries, Europe, and the United States met at the Chilean Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Santiago, Chile to celebrate the launch of the Spanish version of the Andean Glacier and Water Atlas.
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Earlier this month, experts from IPCC Working Group II came together in Durban, South Africa to begin preparing their contribution to the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report (AR6). Among them were representatives from the MRI and ICIMOD, selected to co-lead the Cross-Chapter Paper on Mountains.
From 20-25 January 2019, over 250 authors from the IPCC Working Group II – concerned with climate change impacts, adaptation, and vulnerabilities – met in Durban, South Africa for the First Lead Author Meeting of the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report (AR6). The authors were selected from more than 1000 nominations submitted by governments and IPCC Observer Organizations, with the selection aiming to balance expertise, gender, countries, and regions to ensure the inclusion of diverse views and scientific disciplines.
Following the announcement last year that Carolina Adler of the MRI and Philippus Wester of ICIMOD had been chosen to co-lead a Cross-Chapter Paper on Mountains as part of the Working Group II contribution to AR6, they too travelled to Durban to meet with their co-authors and begin the process of reviewing the existing scientific literature.
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Chapter submissions focusing on changing mountain environments in response to climate change and/or land use change are invited. The book 'Mountain Landscapes in Transition: Effects of Land Use and Climate Change' is designed as an interdisciplinary publication which critically evaluates developments in mountains of the world, with contributions from both social and natural sciences. Editors: Udo Schickhoff, RB Singh, and Suraj Mal
With c. 25 percent of the world’s total terrestrial surface higher than 1000 meters and 11 percent higher than 2000 meters, mountains considerably influence regional and continental atmospheric circulation as well as water and energy cycles, and provide ecosystem services to about half of humanity. Mountains are an important source of water, energy, forest, and agricultural products, minerals, and other natural resources.
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The latest issue of the journal Mountain Research and Development looks at why mountain people might be more vulnerable to hunger and malnutrition than their average fellow citizens, and explores promising approaches to making food systems in mountain regions more sustainable.Food security is a key concern for sustainable development in mountain areas. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, in 2012 almost half of those who live in developing countries’ rural mountain areas were vulnerable to hunger, while the global average of food insecure people in developing countries was one in eight.
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As part of its mission, the MRI provides funding contributions for synthesis workshops that bring together global change researchers to address specific topics of interest to the mountain research community. The deadline for proposals is 7 February 2019
Background
The Mountain Research Initiative (MRI) promotes and coordinates research on global change in mountain regions around the world. As part of that mission, MRI provides funding contributions for synthesis workshops that bring together global change researchers to address specific topics of interest to the mountain research community, with the objective of producing synthesis products such as articles for publication in peer-reviewed scientific journals or compilation of relevant data into publishable databases.
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Since 2015, the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have become a global blueprint to address global challenges and achieve a “better and more sustainable future for all” – but what does this mean for mountain science? In his plenary presentation at the 5th Forum Carpaticum, the MRI's Co-Chair Prof. Jörg Balsiger explored this question. Using illustrations from the MRI's activities and recent scientific developments, Jörg Balsiger suggests three key implications of the 2030 Agenda. First, the 2030 Agenda’s integrated and indivisible character directly relates to the need to reinforce scientific efforts to transcend established boundaries, not only between disciplines but also between highlands and lowlands, between territory and function, and between the meanings of science of, in, and for mountains.
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What’s going on with climate change adaptation in glaciated mountain regions? Is it enough to meet the challenge of climate change? Find out in this new paper in Global Environmental Change.A new study develops a typology of the challenge of climate change in glaciated mountain systems and uses formal systematic review methods to critically evaluate existing adaptation actions and research in light of this framework.
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Representatives from ICIMOD and the MRI have been selected to co-lead the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report’s Cross-Chapter Paper on Mountains.
What happens in mountains directly affects one fourth of the world’s population, and more than half of humanity relies on freshwater from mountains. However, decisions about mountain resources are often made outside of the mountains, and mountains have received limited attention in the global development agenda. But things are changing. The Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) will feature a Cross-Chapter Paper on Mountains.
