I am also happy to mention that ICIMOD joins our regional member countries of Nepal, Pakistan, and Bangladesh in observing this very important Day. This year, the theme for the Day is Mountains - Key to a Sustainable Future. The focus is on celebrating how mountains are crucial in moving the world towards sustainable economic growth in the context of poverty eradication, and on drawing attention to their generally sustainable and low-emission production models.
Mountains cover about 24% of the global land surface and are home to 12% of the worlds population. They are a direct source of livelihood to 10% of the worlds people, and another 40% derive indirect benefits from the wide varieties of goods and services afforded by the mountain socio-ecosystems. Mountains provide most of worlds freshwater and are repositories of cultural and biological diversity. Today, it is acknowledged worldwide that mountain socio-ecosystems are crucial for sustainable development.
In the
HKH region, sometimes referred to as the Third Pole or the Water Towers of Asia, mountains are a direct source of livelihood for 210 million people. Further, mountain goods and services support another 1.3 billion people downstream. Glaciers of the
HKH feed 10 major rivers that support extensive irrigation systems in the region. Yet, despite this vast natural wealth, mountain people are the ones who have often lived and continue to live in the margins of societies. In a succinct metaphor, they are like the poor and hungry servants who live in a palace made of gold and diamonds.
Let me recall what the chief scientific adviser to the UK government, Sir John Beddington, cautioned in March 2009: that food, energy, and water shortages will unleash unrest and international conflicts. This food-energy-water security is intrinsically linked to mountains and mountain communities, and mountains therefore will play a very important political role in the future.
However, mountains and their fragile socio-ecosystems today face a host of challenges: out-migration, mostly male; impacts of climate change including retreating glaciers, changing monsoon patterns, disaster frequency, and extreme events; depleting resources and ecosystem services; government neglect and insufficient private investment; and slow development progress compared to lowland areas.
Let us recognize that change also brings significant opportunities. For these opportunities to bring about meaningful benefits to mountains communities, a sea change in the attitude of both policymakers and policy implementers is urgently required. Among others, mountains should not be seen as inaccessible or conflict zones, instead communities must rally around the common mountain agenda through collaborations and partnerships. Social development must focus on sustaining functional ecosystems, and broader partnerships must be forged to share mountain knowledge and data. The bond between democracy and sustainable development must be deepened by empowering local people, particularly women.
At ICIMOD, in the last few years, we have been issuing forth a rallying call for a broader partnership for all actors to collaborate in finding practical solutions to the challenges facing the mountain communities. We have to seek ways to improve community resilience and explore sustainable livelihood options. We must work across disciplinary boundaries and focus on inclusive growth so that no one is left behind. We must devise innovative financing mechanisms and bring private sector on board the Mountain Agenda. And we must foster and enhance transboundary cooperation to share data and knowledge. In this connection, ICIMOD will continue to find ways to address the cross-border issues in the Post-2015 Development Agenda, and partner for talks on processes and the agenda being developed for
UNFCCC to help share the voice of vulnerable mountain communities at the global level.
As a mountain resource center, ICIMOD will continue to generate information, package it, and disseminate it to all the stakeholders. We will facilitate partnership building among various actors and stakeholders to enhance the capability of the mountain people to transform their own future. We will continue to raise awareness about the importance of mountains and highlight opportunities and constraints in mountain development. We will continue to promote development approach that incorporates mountain peoples traditional knowledge in the context of a green economy. Above all, we will continue to seek new windows of opportunities in the area of sustainable mountain development.
I wish everyone a happy International Mountain Day.