ICIMOD at Seventh Mountain Partnership Global Meeting

Background

Despite their global significance, mountain regions are increasingly exposed to the impacts of climate change, biodiversity loss, land degradation and pollution. Rising temperatures are accelerating glacier retreat, reducing snow cover and destabilising permafrost (frozen ground that remains at or below 0° Celsius for two or more years). These changes are triggering more frequent and severe hazards like flash floods and landslides –threatening food security, livelihoods and ecosystems in mountain areas and downstream.

In response to these escalating challenges,  the Mountain Partnership – United Nations voluntary alliance of partners dedicated to improving the lives of mountain peoples and protecting mountain environments worldwide was launched in 2002. By tapping the wealth and diversity of resources, knowledge, information and expertise within its global membership, the Mountain Partnership engages in advocacy and stimulates concrete initiatives at all levels to address threats, improve quality of life and sustain healthy environments in the world’s mountain regions.

As a member of the Mountain Partnership, the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) will be joining the Seventh Mountain Partnership Global Meeting from 26 to 28 March 2026 in the Principality of Andorra, southwestern Europe hosted by the Government of Andorra.

Under the theme, ‘Mountains for the Future: Responsible Tourism, Thriving Communities, this high-level meeting represents a crucial opportunity for mountain partnership members to build on the achievements made since the last Global Meeting in 2022 and strengthen partnerships across sectors and regions.

Every four years, members gather for the Global Meeting to shape the future direction of this United Nations mountain alliance. This is achieved through the adoption of four-year strategies for advocacy and communication, as well as the revised governance document.

Global Meeting objectives and outcomes

The Seventh  Global Meeting will address these interconnected challenges and explore solutions that can improve the quality of life for current and future generations. It aims to:

• showcase innovative solutions and case studies in responsible tourism, climate adaptation, and community resilience
• strengthen existing and new partnerships across sectors and borders
• position mountains at the centre of international climate, biodiversity and development agendas
• Adopt the Mountain Partnership’s 2026–2030 advocacy and communications strategies, along with the revised governance document
• elect the next Steering Committee, which will oversee the implementation of the Mountain Partnership’s workplan and activities over the next four years.

The meeting will conclude with the adoption of the Andorra Declaration, setting the path forward for future collaborative action in mountain regions.

Our delegation

Our sessions

• Panel 1: Climate action – fostering the science and policy network, 26 March Mountain Partnership and Andorra – Pema Gyamtsho (recording), panel discussant
• Side event: Building resilience at altitude: climate change and security in mountain regions, organised by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and the Special Representative of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic on the Mountain Agenda, Pradyumna Rana, panel discussant
• Side event: Adaptation at altitude: connecting the world’s mountains for knowledge exchange and climate action, 26 March organised by Adaptation at Altitude, Pradyumna Rana, Group lead for World Café