This site uses cookies, as explained in our terms of use. If you consent, please close this message and continue to use this site.
Warsaw, Poland
3 mins Read
Vulnerable communities in developing countries, mountain nations, and small island developing states (SIDS), need global support and knowledge to adapt to the rapid and unpredictable changes.
This was the central theme of the side event ‘Adaptation without Borders: Building Cooperation for Resilient Regions’ organized jointly by INTASAVE-CARIBSAVE, the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), and Oxford University’s Environment Change Institute (ECI) in collaboration with GRID-Arendal and other partner institutions at the UNFCCC COP19 in Warsaw, Poland, on Thursday 14 November 2013.
The event underpinned the importance of fostering cooperation among countries and regions to address adaptation to climate change and sustainable development in developing countries, mountainous nations, and SIDS. Over 100 participants of COP 19, including policymakers and negotiators, from all the regions, and particularly from the coastal and mountainous regions, attended the event.
The event highlighted the vulnerability of mountains and of those who depend on them. It reminded the participants the value of mountains as ‘water towers’ of the world and global reservoirs of biodiversity. The high-level panel called on COP19 delegates and global development partners to protect vital mountain ecosystems and to support adaptation programmes in the mountains for improved livelihoods and sustainability, and to create incentives to enhance the benefits mountain people derive from conserving their ecosystems.
The event showcased a preview of an upcoming publication on food security ‘The Last Straw’ that highlights the additional burden of climate change on food security in the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region. A video teaser titled ‘Scaling Mountains, Gaining Heights’ presented concerns from women environmental leaders on gendered differences to climate change adaptation.
Dr Eklabya Sharma urged countries in the South, particularly those in the HKH region, to share resources and knowledge to adapt to the challenge of climate change and other drivers of change.
Dr Rebecca Nadin, Director, Adapting to Climate Change in China, pointed out that adaptation without borders was not limited to geographic or political borders. While these are essential, the complex nature of adaptation policy and planning means other borders between sectors, technical disciplines, and even those within the country as national to sub-national levels must be crossed.
The Chief Technical Officer of INTASAVE-CARIBSAVE, Dr Owen Day, outlined the importance of identifying and working with community agents of change. He said ecosystem-based adaptation might be an adequate solution for the coastal regions.
Presentations on collaborative work carried out by ICIMOD, GRID-Arendal, and CICERO in Himalayan Climate Change Adaptation Programme (HICAP) which is supported by the Governments of Norway and Sweden highlighted the importance of strategic partnership-based activities, especially in food security and gender equality, to raise awareness about climate change issues in the mountains.
In his closing remark, the CEO of INTASAVE-CARIBSAVE, Dr. Murray Simpson, who also chaired the panel discussion, highlighted the International South-South Initiative for Policy, Legislation, and Practice that stressed on the common themes of gender, crossing sectoral and national boundaries and working through existing community structures as meaningful action for adaptation.
For more information, please contact:
Dr Murray C. Simpson Oxford University Centre for the Environment, Chief Executive Officer The INTASAVE Partnership and CARIBSAVE
Ms Nira Gurung Senior Communications Officer, ICIMOD
South Asia faces the challenge of tackling persistent poverty at a time of rapid and large-scale changes in social, environmental, ...
距人类首登世界之巅已70年,而气候紧急情况发生在此:在兴都库什-喜马拉雅区域内,三分之二的冰川预计将在本世纪末消失。 领先的山地机构国际山地综合发展中心(ICIMOD)、尼泊尔登山协会(NMA)和山区伙伴关系(Mountain Partnership) 呼吁全世界来拯救地球上的冰雪,以避免为时过晚。 #“拯救我们的雪”宣言在最初48小时内就收集到1000多个签名,其中包括新西兰前总理、各国外交官、传奇登山者和著名地球科学家。 尼泊尔加德满都讯(2023 年 5 月 29 日)——七十年前的今天,在埃德蒙·希拉里爵士和丹增·诺尔盖首次登上珠峰 ; 70 年后的今天,地球上最高的山峰正在经历由全球变暖引起的前所未有且基本不可逆的变化。 全球变暖正在危及珠峰与兴都库什-喜马拉雅地区的环境,该地区横跨八个国家,约长3500公里。根据目前的排放情况,科学家预计在未来70年内,该地区三分之二的冰川或将消融。 国际山地综合发展中心(ICIMOD)在包括 尼泊尔登山协会 和 山区伙伴关系(联合国自愿伙伴联盟)在内的全球山地机构的支持下,呼吁公众支持 #拯救我们的雪(#SaveOurSnow)运动。该运动要求公众: 在社交平台分享来自世界各地山区的故事和照片,使用#SaveOurSnow 标签 强调气候影响; 在网址 icimod.org/saveoursnow/declaration/ 签署一份宣言,呼吁各国政府兑现将升温限制在 1.5 ...
Speaking on the occasion, David Molden, Director General of ICIMOD, said, “ICIMOD is increasingly stepping up to work closely with ...
After four days of invigorating discussion on resilience issues in the Hindu Kush Himalaya, Nepal’s Ministry of Population and the ...
Representatives from LDC mountain nations call for greater investment in the mountains for a sustainable global future (11 December ...
For the third year in a row, Kathmandu joined more than 130 cities across the globe during the 2015 NASA ...
For Immediate Release Lalgadh, Dhanusha | 7 August 2025 Local mayoral and community representatives from eight municipalities across the Madhesh Province gathered ...
Vienna, Austria – 22 Aug 2024 – The Austrian Development Agency (ADA) and the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development ...