Lofty Peaks: Why Glaciers Matter

11 December 2018 (UN Environment)* — International Mountain Day on 11 December reminds us of the importance of mountains (peaks and uplands) as providers of valuable plant and animal species, as homes for indigenous peoples, and as sources of fresh water.

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At the event, UN Environment and GRID-Arendal launched the Mountain Adaptation Outlook Series Synthesis Reportwhich presents an overview of current gaps in mountain adaptation in the target areas of a UN Environment project funded by Austria called Climate change action in developing countries with fragile mountainous ecosystems from a sub-regional perspective.

The event also featured the launch of the Outlook on Climate Change Adaptation in the Hindu Kush Himalayas, a collaboration between GRID-Arendal, ICIMOD and UN Environment.

The report presents the main climate change impacts, current policies and gaps in the highest and largest mountain region in the world.

Nearly two billion people depend on fresh water from the Hindu Kush Himalayas, so climate change impacts here will have profound effects on the world economy and vulnerable communities in the high mountains.

New UN Environment Mountain Hero

UN Environment Mountain Hero Will Gadd raises awareness on disappearing glaciers. He is one of the world’s most prominent ice climbers and will be supporting UN Environment as our newest Mountain Hero.

Among his many accomplishments, he has established ice climbing routes across the planet and has set the world record twice for the longest distance covered by paragliding (423 km).

At the heart of the Mountain Heroes campaign are extraordinary athletes who dedicate some of their time to raise awareness of environmental issues, in particular environmental protection of mountains, where early indicators of the effects of climate change are already becoming visible.

Mountain Heroes already include Sabrina Simader, the Kenyan skier, and Michael Strasser, an Austrian Cyclist, who recently broke the world recordfor the fastest cycle from the northern tip of North America to the southern tip of Patagonia.

All glaciers in the tropics will be gone in the next few decades as a result of climate change. And in nearly all mountain areas across the world glaciers are melting rapidly. In 2014, Will Gadd climbed the remaining parts of the glacier on Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa and the highest free-standing mountain in the world at 5,895 metres.

Climbers and mountaineers also have a responsibility to protect the landscapes they enjoy. It will take cooperation between all stakeholders of mountains to increase awareness of the unique challenges they face.

That’s why UN Environment is also partnering with the International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation to boost environmental protection in mountainous areas.

The work includes training mountain guides on sustainability issues in collaboration with the International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations.

One example is working with the climbing and mountaineering community on reducing the amount of litter left in these fragile landscapes.

*SOURCE: UN Environment. Go to ORIGINAL. 

Learn More:

One Billion Mountain People Marching on Cities?

The Polar Boom: Corporations Flock to Melting Arctic for Oil and Trade Routes

2018 Human Wrongs Watch