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Making Connections for Our Changing Mountains
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Dear MRI community,
In April, the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction published its Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction 2022 (GAR2022). Entitled Our World at Risk: Transforming Governance for a Resilient Future, this comprehensive analysis of disaster risk and risk management worldwide contained a stark message for us all: Human activity is contributing to an increasing number of disasters across the world, putting millions of lives and every social and economic gain we make in danger.
Nowhere is this truer than in our changing mountains; complex social-ecological systems that are exposed to multiple hazards, including volcanic activity, earthquakes, avalanches, landslides, debris flows, flash-floods, water scarcity, droughts, and glacial lake outburst floods. That the majority of mountain people live in developing countries and are among the world’s poorest and most disadvantaged – faced with harsh climatic and environmental conditions, political, social, and economic marginalization, and limited access to health and education services – means that events triggered by these hazards, often cascading in nature, can overwhelm local response capacities.
Disaster risk is therefore a key impediment for sustainable development in mountain regions, and those regions lacking adequate integrated disaster risk management face more severe impacts of climate change. The central question for the GAR2022 is how governance systems can evolve to better address the systemic risks of the future, particularly given the complex and transboundary nature of risk and disasters. This evolution will require transdisciplinary scientific evidence from the mountain research community to support the development of integrated strategies that address root causes and risk drivers, and thus identify the best interventions to reduce vulnerability and exposure, and increase resilience in mountain areas. Crucially, this also necessitates working closely with mountain communities in the co-production of knowledge to forge truly sustainable pathways that fortify mountain societies.
The GAR2022 is a sobering read, but disasters can be prevented if we take steps to reduce our vulnerability and exposure to risk. May’s Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GP2022) was an important opportunity for governments and other key stakeholders to come together to discuss the recommendations of GAR2022. As Chapter Lead Author and Contributing Author of GAR2022, we were pleased to attend this event to participate in ' Thematic Session 1: Improved Understanding and Governance of Systemic Risk – Unpacking the 2022 Global Assessment Report.' In this session, we introduced the key findings and recommendations of GAR2022 concerning novel risk governance approaches and necessary future transitions. Likewise, of great significance was fostering a common understanding of the systemic nature of risk and how it can be managed. For example, enhancing early warning systems through availability of disaggregated data and information, integrating technical, institutional, and sociocultural components, and having robust risk communication in place can build resilience to disasters. Follow-up actions to put GAR2022 findings into practice for academics, practitioners, and governments were also suggested. A video recording of this session is available to watch below, and you can find the full GP2022 Summary Report here.
Another significant milestone will be the conclusion of the Midterm Review of the implementation of the UN’s Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction in 2023. In the meantime, we as a research community can contribute by continuing to strive to better understand disaster risk and the multi-dimensions of vulnerability and exposure to help adequately assess the potential impact of multi-hazards in mountain communities.
With best regards, |
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Prof. Irasema Alcántara-Ayala
Lead Author GAR2022 (Chapter 4)
Institute of Geography, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), MRI SLC Member.
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Dr. Mandira Singh Shrestha
Contributing Author GAR2022 (Chapter 4). International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), MRI SLC Member.
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In this GP2022 Thematic Session, MRI SLC Member Prof. Irasema Alcántara-Ayala, Lead Author GAR2022 (Chapter 4), joins other experts in the risk governance domain to discuss the findings of the report and suggest follow-up actions for transforming these findings into action.
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As authors of the recent IPCC Working Group II report Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability, MRI Executive Director Carolina Adler and MRI Principal Investigator Christian Huggel were among the researchers invited to the Swiss Parliament for an exchange with politicians on the challenges of the climate and biodiversity crisis.
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Research conducted by the MRI’s Elevation-Dependent Climate Change Working Group and published in Reviews of Geophysics earlier this year presented recent developments in our understanding of climate change in mountains. In this article for the American Geophysical Union's Eos magazine, some of the authors explain how mountain regions have been responding to climate change – and what is still unknown.
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The launch event of the International Year of Sustainable Mountain Development aimed to raise awareness of the importance of mountains for sustainable development. MRI Executive Director Carolina Adler was among the speakers, presenting the main results of the recent IPCC report on impacts, adaptation, and vulnerability, and on ways to use this knowledge towards climate resilient development in mountains.
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UNIL-CIRM, MRI, UNIGE-ISE, and Labex ITTEM are organizing a symposium on global change and sustainability issues in mountain areas. Contributions from all fields of study are welcome. Please submit your contribution by 31 August.
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This Synthesis Workshop co-organised by the University of Halle, the Universidad Mayor de San Andrés, and the MRI aims to initiate a research network on carbon dynamics in high-Andean tropical cushion peatlands. Application deadline for participants 30 June. Registration deadline for listeners 31 August.
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With new mountain events added regularly, don't forget to check out our online calendar.
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GEO Mountains News & Events
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The GEO Mountains General Meeting May 2022 provided an opportunity to bring members of the Initiative together, share recent progress, and discuss plans for the 2023-2025 GEO Work Programme period.
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Dr. James Thornton contributed views from GEO Mountains regarding current and possible future integration with the Group on Earth Observations System of Systems (GEOSS), including the functionality that the GEOSS Portal would have to possess to be most useful to our community.
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GEO Mountains at Recent Conferences
GEO Mountains recently hosted a session entitled 'Past Climates in Our Changing Mountains: Contributions from the Paleoscience Community' at the PAGES Open Science Meeting 2022. This session will hopefully act as a foundation to build stronger ties with the paleoscience community working in mountains. In addition, collaborators from the GEO Mountains Secretariat were involved in two presentations highlighting recent publications in a session on 'Mountain Weather and Climate' at the EGU General Assembly 2022 (Schöner et al., 2022; Thornton et al., 2022).
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Upcoming GEO Mountains Events
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30 June 2022 | 10:00-13:00 CEST | Virtual Event (Zoom)
By drawing upon the contributions of regional experts including research scientists, practitioners, local and regional authorities, and other stakeholders, and acknowledging all previous and ongoing efforts and initiatives in the region, this workshop will seek to develop a broad, interdisciplinary, and systematic understanding of the current 'data situation' across a range of relevant disciplines in the Hindu Kush Himalayan region. This workshop will be co-convened by the Mountain Research Initiative, GEO Mountains, and ICIMOD under the umbrella of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation’s Adaptation at Altitude Programme. Registration deadline 27 June.
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Further GEO Mountains news and relevant events can be found on the GEO Mountains website.
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Conéctate A+ News & Events
Cluster of Cooperation in the Tropical Andes and Central America Region
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8 June 2022 | 9:00-10:00 Lima-Bogotá / 16:00-17:00 CEST | Virtual Event
The Conéctate A+ leadership and coordination team will provide an overview of upcoming activities, highlighting opportunities for participation, engagement, and collaboration. In addition, Phase I grantees will present their work and experiences with the program. Plus, Anna Stewart, Science Director of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), will introduce IAI’s activities and its collaboration with Conéctate A+ as a new associate partner. The one-hour virtual event will be rounded off with a general Q&A, offering an opportunity to identify and discuss the expectations and needs of the Connect A+ community. Registration closes 7 June.
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According to two recent studies carried out as part of the Vanishing Glaciers Project, the ecosystems of glacier-fed streams are undergoing profound change around the world. That could have major repercussions on the food chain and the natural carbon cycle.
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To mark the official launch of the International Year of Sustainable Mountain Development the United Nations Environment Programme has published two new booklets, titled Mountains ADAPT. They feature 27 solutions for mountainous areas to adapt to the climate crisis.
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This list, updated each week, contains articles relevant to mountain research that you won't want to miss this month.
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30 June 2022 | 15:30–17:00 CEST | Virtual Event
In this online event, two Mountain Research and Development (MRD) authors will present findings and discuss their recommendations with policymakers and practitioners. The aim is to jointly reflect on how to make adaptation efforts work better for mountain communities. More information will be available soon.
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In this episode of the Canadian Mountain Podcast, we learn about the Canadian Mountain Assessment, which is a flagship initiative of the Canadian Mountain Network that will clarify what we know, do not know, and need to know about Canada’s diverse and rapidly changing mountain systems. This assessment is led by Dr. Graham McDowell, who is supported by a team of international and Canadian advisors that help steward the project as it moves forward. The assessment is the first of its kind in Canada and the first in the world to put a primary focus on working and collaborating with Indigenous peoples. This episode also features MRI Executive Director Carolina Adler.
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Have an idea for a blog post or mountain news to share?
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Call for Coordination of JAR/RGA Thematic Issue
The Journal of Alpine Research / Revue de Géographie Alpine is looking for two or three coordinators for a new thematic issue.
Deadline is 19 June 2022.
Frontiers Research Topic: Tourism and Outdoor Recreation in a Melting World
This Frontiers Research Topic aims at focusing on the human dimensions at the nexus of cryosphere retreat and tourism and recreation.
Submission deadline for abstracts is 11 July 2022.
Annals of Glaciology Special Issue: Ice in a Sustainable Society
This Annals will focus on 'interdisciplinary relations' rather than isolated disciplines. Its main objective is to look beyond individual specializations, identifying powerful interconnections and relationships that recognize no disciplinary borders, in order to highlight the extraordinary transdisciplinary potential of glaciology. MRI Executive Director Carolina Adler is among the Scientific Editors for this special issue.
Manuscript submission deadline is 1 September 2022.
Annals of Glaciology Special Issue: Ice, Snow, Water, and Permafrost in a Warming World
The International Glaciological Society (IGS) will prepare a special issue of the Annals of Glaciology exploring how, as a result of global atmospheric warming, all components of Earth´s cryosphere are now changing at a dramatic pace.
Manuscript submission deadline is 31 December 2022.
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Check out the MRI website for a full list of open calls and publication opportunities.
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The Swiss Network for International Studies (SNIS) stipend for young scholars is a funding opportunity aimed at promoting Geneva-based research on International Organisations. Applicants should not be older than 35 years and should be registered in a Swiss institution of higher education for a PhD on an International Studies related-subject.
Application deadline 10 June 2022 (13:00 CET).
SDSN - Call for Solution Initiatives 2022
In this call for proposals, SDSN Switzerland members and partners are invited to submit proposals for projects and activities that contribute to accelerating the implementation of the SDGs in Switzerland and beyond, called Solution Initiatives. Funding up to 50% of the total project budget, with a maximum contribution of CHF 50,000 per project.
Application deadline 27 June 2022.
From understanding impacts of climate change on health outcomes to strengthening electrification planning, filling data gaps in the climate domain allows communities around the world to better mitigate and adapt to climate change. The current call welcomes proposals relating to 'Climate & Health' and 'Climate & Energy.'
Deadline for proposals is 17 July 2022.
Collaborative Research Actions 2022 - Integrated Approaches to Human Migration/Mobility in an Era of Rapid Global Change
This Research Call is being offered by the Belmont Forum, a group of funding agencies from around the world that support transdisciplinary, globally-representative research groups and coproduction/participatory methods to address various Global Environmental Change topics. Topics are addressed through a 'Collaborative Research Action' (CRA), the Forum's equivalent of a call for proposals.
Application deadline 29 July 2022.
The SNSF is participating in a pilot call together with 10 funding agencies from four continents. The call is aimed at accelerating achievement of the SDGs by implementing results of ongoing or recently finalised research projects.
Submission deadline 5 August 2022.
The Pathways Communication Grants Program seeks to ensure that scientific contributions supporting the development of pathways for sustainability reach relevant audiences beyond the scientific community. To promote wider uptake and understanding of pathways for sustainability, the grant supports the dissemination of scientific research findings via innovative dissemination formats and practices.
Application deadline 30 September 2022.
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For a full list of open funding opportunities, please see our website.
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Institute of Interdisciplinary Mountain Research, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Innsbruck, Austria
The successful candidate will be in charge of building a strong research program on urbanisation and sustainability in mountain regions, and will contribute to the development of solutions to the great challenges of the 21st century.
Application deadline 10 June 2022.
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A regularly updated compilation of mountain job opportunities can be found on our website.
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