Progress report for
Advancing sustainable mountain development and protecting the “water towers” of the world
Achievement at a glance
The Mountain Partnership Secretariat is actively supporting the implementation of the Five Years of Action for the Development of Mountain Regions 2023–2027 (Five Years of Action). It coordinated a task force of over 20 intergovernmental organizations to develop the Global Framework for the Five Years of Action for the Development of Mountain Regions 2023–2027 . This framework provides a global strategy for implementing the Five Years of Action, which countries are encouraged to adapt into their national implementation plans. The global framework proposes four interlinked global pathways to encourage all stakeholders to contribute to the Five Years of Action with initiatives that will lead to the desired impacts above. One of those pathways is dedicated to scale up nature-based solutions to reduce climate risk and promote adaptation and mitigation in mountainous regions. This pathway sets water management that considers upstream-downstream linkages as a crucial target to be achieved. Thirty global and regional initiatives have been identified to contribute to this pathway, including four initiatives entirely dedicated to water. Additionally, the Global Framework offers an opportunity to map existing initiatives on sustainable mountain development conducted by various global and regional agencies that contribute to the overall implementation of the Five Years of Action.Over the course of 2023 and 2024, the Mountain Partnership Secretariat and Mountain Partnership members carried out several advocacy efforts that resulted in three key moments:
At 174th Session of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Council, following the effort of several Mountain Partnership members, FAO highlighted its commitment to promoting the mountain agenda in its capacity as lead agency for mountains within the United Nations (UN) system.
The 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP 28) represented a historic COP for mountains. Following the efforts of many Mountain Partnership government members, mountains were included in the global stocktake (GST) text. The document included five mentions of mountains and an official request for dialogue on mountains and climate change at the 60th session of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA 60). Also, a forum on the role of mountains within the context of the Nairobi Work Programme (NWP) – a workstream of the UNFCCC – was held on 2 December at COP 28. The forum resulted in mountains, high-latitude areas and the cryosphere being declared a priority thematic area for 2024 within the Nairobi Work Programme.
On 5 June 2024, the first-ever Expert Dialogue on mountains and climate change was held at SBSTA 60 in Bonn, Germany. The dialogue discussed impacts, research gaps, and how to accelerate action to enhance the resilience of mountain ecosystems. The topic of water management was one of the most discussed in breakout sessions, where three out of five regional groups brought this topic up as a key issue. Participation at the dialogue was high-level and it included, among others, several ministers from different governments , the SBSTA Chair and the UNFCCC Executive Secretary.
Challenges faced in implementation
The Mountain Partnership, the United Nations alliance of partners committed to working together with the common goal of achieving sustainable mountain development around the world, represents a global platform for addressing the challenges associated with mountainous regions.Given its vast and diverse membership, establishing shared priorities that resonate with and are actively supported by the majority can be challenging. This consensus-building is essential for ensuring that members feel accountable and committed to the initiatives undertaken.
Another critical issue is the limited availability of funds. Sustainable mountain development initiatives often require significant financial resources for research, project implementation, and capacity building. Despite the Mountain Partnership's efforts to mobilize resources, funding remains a persistent challenge.
Next Steps
Rosalaura Romeo, Coordinator, Mountain Partnership SecretariatBeneficiaries
The direct beneficiaries for these initiatives are the Mountain Partnership members, while the indirect beneficiaries are the mountain peoples and the peoples benefitting from goods and services coming from mountains. Currently, the Mountain Partnership counts over 580 members, including 67 governments, 478 major group organizations (i.e. nongovernmental organizations, universities, private sector, etc.), 23 intergovernmental Organizations and 13 subnational authorities.
Actions
The Mountain Partnership Secretariat plays a key role in supporting advocacy efforts conducted by its Partnership members. It provides logistical support, prepares key messages, coordinates collaborative efforts, and offers a global platform for members to advocate at the main fora for the mountain agenda. These actions help ensure that mountain issues remain prominent in global discussions and UN processes, promoting resource mobilization and transformative action.Since 2022, the Mountain Partnership Secretariat has coordinated the work of the Science and Knowledge Advisory (SKA) Committee of the Mountain Partnership. This committee was initially formed to ensure that the International Year of Sustainable Mountain Development 2022 fully benefited mountain peoples and ecosystems. It focused on increasing knowledge about the main challenges faced by mountain regions and promoting investments toward these areas. The Committee’s main aim has been to produce scientifically sound messages to effectively communicate “mountain issues and strengths” to diverse audience.
As of 2024, the SKA Committee has produced eight policy briefs providing evidence-based recommendations and insights for policymakers and stakeholders, supporting the broader advocacy and communication goals of the Mountain Partnership. The ongoing work of the SKA Committee continues to underpin the Mountain Partnership’s efforts, ensuring that mountain regions receive the attention and investment they need for sustainable development.