About Us

About Us

Adaptation at Altitude is a collaborative programme launched and co-supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). The first phase of programme ran from 2020 to 2023 and the second phase runs from 2024 to 2027. For further information please download an Adaptation At Altitude programme brochure.

Why are mountains important?

Mountains are at the frontline of climate change! Mountains feature some of the clearest indications of climate change: rising temperatures, melting glaciers and changing precipitation patterns are disrupting water flows and affecting ecosystems, creating and worsening natural hazards and threatening livelihoods and communities both within the mountains and downstream.

Mountain regions cover about one quarter of the Earth’s land surface and are home to more than 1 billion people. Mountains host an impressive array of natural resources – 25% of terrestrial biodiversity and 60% of all biosphere reserves – and they supply freshwater for lowland irrigation and domestic use for half of the global population. Mountains provide essential ecosystem services for livelihoods, and with their rich ethnic and cultural diversity and magical natural beauty they offer recreation and restoration for residents and visitors alike.

Because climate impacts are often more profound in mountains and affect people already confronting poverty and land degradation, mountain livelihoods are particularly sensitive to climate change. Mountain people have always faced the challenges of living in a rugged environment and have developed coping strategies to adapt to harsh conditions, but the unprecedented magnitude and speed of climate change puts them under increasing pressure.

Our Objective

The Adaptation at Altitude programme seeks to increase the resilience and adaptive capacity of mountain communities and ecosystems to climate change by:

  • Improving the knowledge of appropriate climate change adaptation strategies in the mountains
  • Transferring that knowledge through science–policy platforms to inform decision-making in national, regional and global policy processes

Adaptation at Altitude will foster exchange among the mountain areas of the world and seek short and long-term solutions to the problems arising from climate change.

Funders, partners, and the team

Adaptation at Altitude is a collaborative programme launched and co-supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).

Partners working on the programme include: Mountain Research Institute, UNEP, CONDESAN, ICIMOD, Stockholm Environment Institute, University of Geneva, and Zoï Environment Network.

View Funders and Partners