Mission

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.

What We Do

Data, Information & Monitoring

We strengthen GEO Mountains, a flagship activity of the Mountain Research Initiative (MRI), under the framework of the intergovernmental Group on Earth Observations (GEO).

Knowledge on climate change impacts and adaptation in the mountains is facilitated through integrated monitoring and improved access to relevant Earth observation data, information, and synthesis products, and through research-based services.

Our aim is that the improved availability and use of mountain observation data and information services contribute to regional and global knowledge products on the impacts of climate change in mountains.

Find out more on GEO Mountains

Regional Governance, Advocacy & Collaborative Action

Mountain climate change adaptation should be mainstreamed into regional planning, policy processes and regional collaborative action and advocacy as a result of strengthened science-policy dialogue, targeted resource mobilisation and interregional exchange and action learning.

Our aim is that as a result of established and strengthened science–policy platforms, regional bodies and their national constituencies support the integration of mountain-specific climate change adaptation into planning and policy processes in the Andes, East Africa, the Hindu Kush Himalayas, and South Caucasus.

Find out more on activities in the Andes 

Find out more on activities in Hindu Kush Himalaya

Find out more on activities in South Caucasus and inter-regionally

Knowledge Generation & Sharing

Knowledge and climate change adaptation information and solutions in the mountains are fostered, exchanged, discussed, and easily accessible, and applications are promoted at the local, regional and global levels through the Adaptation at Altitude Solutions Portal and the Adaptation at Altitude Knowledge Network.

Our aim is that stronger knowledge on climate change adaptation opportunities in the mountains informs the development of national, regional and global approaches to increase resilience and adaptation capacity.

Explore articles and information on the Climate Change Adaptation in Mountains theme.

Find out more about the global database of CCA solutions for mountain regions.

Join and participate in the Adaptation at Altitude Knowledge Network.

Advocacy & Policy Influencing

We influence policy processes related to climate change (UNFCCC, Paris Agreement, Global Stocktake), disaster risk reduction (Sendai Framework for DRR), and the Sustainable Development Goals (Agenda 2030).

Informed by evidence, improved knowledge, and a strengthened science-policy dialogue, UNFCCC and other relevant major global processes and policy frameworks incorporate climate change adaptation strategies for mountain regions into their strategies and plans. Our aim is that major global policy processes take climate change adaptation in mountains into account.