Chapter 16 - Climate change adaptation in mountain regions

Abstract

Globally, climate change adaptation has gained increased momentum in recent years as an imperative policy action to achieve sustainable development. Even though this is a positive development, necessary measures need to be put in place to ensure that appropriate attention is given to the most vulnerable ecosystems and communities. Mountain regions are among the most vulnerable environments in the world due to their inherent biophysical characteristics such as complex topography, large ecological gradients, and sharp climatic differences. Compounded with development constraints and challenges – especially in the developing countries – these characteristics leave mountain ecosystems and the people living and depending on them at disproportionate exposure to climate change risks. Using a desktop research approach, this chapter looks at current climate change adaptation practices in mountain regions under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), while noting the difference between communities exclusively living in mountain regions on the one hand resulting in symbiotic relationship, and those depending on mountains for resources such as water supply, energy production, ecotourism on the other. It presents opportunities for building resilience of mountain ecosystems and strengthening climate change adaptation in the mountain regions drawing upon the provisions under the UNFCCC.