A@A Knowledge Network ‘Solution Showcase’: the cryosphere edition Summary

Summary

The Adaptation at Altitude (A@A) Knowledge Network held its learning event on 29th October 2024 focussing on a “Solution Showcase: the cryosphere edition”. The meeting was hosted online by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) under the Adaptation at Altitude programme, supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). The event gathered participants all working on or with an interest in mountain environments, and presenters shared information about their current project through speed talks and a question and answer session.

The A@A Knowledge Network meeting was opened by Rosie Witton and Kate Williamson (SEI), who provided a brief introduction to the A@A Knowledge Network and provided an overview of the meeting agenda.

The presenters were then introduced and shared a brief overview of their work:

• Zhanar Raimbekova, senior lecturer at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University and part-time at University of Zurich. Zhanar showcased experiences in Kazakhstan concerning GLOF (Glacial Lake Outburst Flood) risk reduction strategies. She highlighted world-leading solutions, such as mudflow protection dams and engineering efforts to lower the level of glacial lakes.
• Dr. Stefan Schneiderbauer, leads the Bolzano/Italy office of GLOMOS (Global Mountain Safeguard Research), a joint programme of the United Nations University and Eurac Research. Stefan presented their upcoming activities in the cryosphere and objectives of their research.

GLOF Protection Measures in Kazakhstan: Insights from the GLOFCA Project and their impact on cryosphere-linked hazards

GLOFCA project aims mitigating cryosphere linked hazards that impact the region, in particular GLOFS. These hazards cause a significant risk in Kazakhstan due to mountain region and changing climates. GLOFs have previously led to catastrophic floods impacting infrastructure, ecosystem, and communities.

In Kazakhstan, GLOF protection measures are implemented through both active and passive approaches, depending on the area’s susceptibility to mudflow floods, combining modern scientific techniques with community driven solutions to mitigate risk. Active measures typically involve engineering structures like mudflow dams and retention basins designed to directly mitigate the impact of GLOFs and floods. Passive approaches focus on monitoring, early warning systems, and land-use planning to minimize potential damage in vulnerable regions.

Kazakhstan employs different methods of engineering protection including: mud flow dams, channelling flows through protective areas, constructing cascades barriers to dissipate energy and protective dyke walls.

The mudflow hazard period in Kazakhstan usually occurs during the months of May-September, but for GLOF hazards we work more actively in the hot months of June-August. Preventive work is carried out manually, explosively and using special small-sized and construction equipment, expanding and deepening evacuation channels, installing and launching siphons with a diameter of 200 to 300 mm, pumping water from lakes with motor pumps. This work is labour intensive and requires a range of techniques.

• Preventive works are conducted using various methods, including manual operations, blasting techniques, specialized compact and construction machinery, expanding and deepening evacuation channels, installing and activating siphons with diameters from 200 to 300 mm, and pumping water from lakes using high-capacity motor pumps.
• Each year, preventive measures are promptly carried out across the Almaty region and the city of Almaty to reduce breakthrough risks at 15-18 moraine lakes.

GLOFCA Pilot Site in Kazakhstan: Talgar River Basin

• The number of moraine dammed glacier lakes is 24, all with a different hazard rating between “developing” and “highly dangerous” hazard levels.
• There is an existing monitoring system in the Talgar, covering 444km² with 560 objects and 20,000 people in the GLOF risk zone.
• The monitoring system in place includes 1 year-round monitoring station; 4 seasonal monitoring stations; and1-3 additional stations.
• Additional monitoring and alarm systems to be implemented include 2 valley sensors; 3 lake stations; and 2 retranslators.
• In Kazakhstan there is the Situation Center for collecting, storing, processing and visualizing incoming information in real time is a control center, on the video wall of which information about the state of moraine lakes is displayed, and also based on modelling the situation with specialized software, information is provided on predicting possible situations, such as the possibility of landslides or mudflows.

Global Mountain Safeguard Research (GLOMOS)

GLOMOS is a joint research programme for the sustainable development of global mountain regions, that is a joint programme of United Nations University (Environment Human Security department) and Eurac Research. GLOMOS aims to work and foster sustainable development in mountain regions globally and they have three key objectives:

• provide knowledge in and for mountain regions as well as the interconnected lowlands at all levels
• to increase the resilience of mountain communities towards natural and anthropogenic hazards and disaster risks
• to support adaptation solutions and sustainable transformation processes within mountain social and ecological systems

GLOMOS has a large network of partners worldwide and currently works within a lot of frameworks including the UN frameworks, Sustainable Development Goals etc.

GLOMOS is currently works globally in Peru, Japan, Lesotho/South Africa, and has upcoming work in Nepal and India.

Multidimensional risk in mountains: GLOMOS has recently worked on different outputs relating to multidimensional risk in mountains:

• Safeguarding Mountain Social Ecological Systems, vol 1
• Safeguarding Mountain Social Ecological Systems, vol 2
• Policy brief (in a set of policy briefs) on risks in mountains

The cryosphere: GLOMOS work on the cryosphere is growing and GLOMOS has been involved in the mountain agenda flagship reports including:

• Adaptation Gap Report 2024 (leading the adaptation finance gap chapter)
• UN World Water Development Report 2025 contributing to Chapter 4 on human settlements and DRR.

International Year of Glacier Preservation: GLOMOS is also participating in the IYGP 2025 task forces with the aims to raise global awareness of the critical role glaciers, snow, and ice play in the climate system and the hydrological cycle, as well as the economic, social, and environmental impacts of changes in the Earth’s cryosphere. GLOMOS is participating in two task forces: TF2 and TF3.

UNFCCC Mountain Dialogue: GLOMOS contributed to the first high level expert dialogue on mountains during the UNFCCC 60^th session of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) in June 2024 in Bonn and are currently analysing the adaptation information database for mountainous countries, based on national reports, to produce scientific insights aimed at advancing adaptation in mountain regions.

The A@A Knowledge Network

The Adaptation at Altitude programme, funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), seeks to support mountain communities and those working with them by improving the knowledge of appropriate climate change adaptation strategies in the mountains, and transferring that knowledge through science–policy platforms to inform decision-making in national, regional and global policy processes.

The A@A Knowledge Network is a global community through which we can share experiences and knowledge on adaptation in the mountains and collaborate to accelerate the uptake of innovative solutions. To get involved keep an eye out for our upcoming meetings and events: The Adaptation at Altitude Knowledge Network – weADAPT