Mountain regions cover about one quarter of the Earth’s land surface. They are home to more than 1 billion people – and the source of 25% of terrestrial biodiversity and 60% of all biosphere reserves. Moreover, they supply freshwater for lowland irrigation and domestic use for half of the global population.

Some of the clearest indications of climate change – rising temperatures, melting glaciers and changing precipitation patterns – are taking place in mountains. These impacts disrupt water flows and affect ecosystems, creating and worsening natural hazards and threatening livelihoods and communities, not just in mountains but also downstream.

In the mountains, ambient temperatures are rising faster than the global average – in some cases more than three times the global average. Because climate impacts are often more profound in mountains, mountain livelihoods are particularly sensitive to climate change. The reliance of rural mountain communities on their local environment and the ecosystem services it provides makes them highly vulnerable to the impacts.

This makes the mountains a key for climate change adaptation efforts globally.

The key challenges could be summed up in a single phrase: relentless change. Temperatures and environmental conditions are likely to continue to change, according to the chapter on mountains in the Sixth Assessment Report of the International Panel on Climate Change. Moreover, the current pace, depth and scope of adaptation measures being implemented in mountain regions are not enough to address the future risks in mountain regions.

The related challenges cross national boarders, economies and societies, as an A@A brief on transboundary risks highlights. For example, the Hindu Kush Himalaya region spans eight countries (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan), twelve major river basins, and the communities where nearly two billion people live and work. Cooperation at regional and national levels is needed to develop an integrated approach to find transboundary solutions that can address the risks these regions face.

The good news is that innovative solutions exist to address many of these challenges. Many of these have been documented by and for mountain communities across the globe. The Adaptation at Altitude Solutions Portal showcases more than 90 tried-and-tested technologies, approaches and/or processes, covering a range of impacts, sectors, scales and ecosystem types. The goal is to provide practical information on areas – such as finance, planning, implementation, outlook and scalability – in an easily accessible format to inspire and, where appropriate, encourage replication of solutions.

We have put together a list of innovations taking place in mountain regions that address seven key areas set out in the Framework Convention for Climate Change. These are listed in the box below.

Next week’s expert dialogue on mountains and climate change in Bonn provides a much-needed space to address and share knowledge on key challenges facing mountainous regions. At the same time, countries are now drafting and updating their national adaptation plans (NAPs) and approaching the deadline for the next round of nationally determined contributions (NDCs), which outline climate action plans for implementation for the next decade. The focus now needs to turn to translating lessons learned on mountains into policy and practice.

To foster inter-regional, transboundary, and systemic adaptation, parliamentarians and policymakers should focus on five key actions:

• Institutionalizing cooperation – The creation of legally binding, regional conventions such as the Alpine Convention can facilitate cross-border knowledge exchange and decision-making processes. Such conventions can also increase the political impact of decisions, as argued in this A@A Mountains Connect brief. Increasing cooperation through knowledge exchange and sharing information is also vital.
• Prioritizing inter-sectoral solutions and projects – Projects that address multiple risks and sectors are considered to be more robust than those with a narrow focus. A recent systematic review of national adaptation plans from 46 developing countries noted that most fail to address tourism, biodiversity, energy,  infrastructure and transport; instead most plans focus on water management, natural hazards and agriculture. It is also crucial for policymakers to take a more holistic approach, recognizing the interconnectedness and interdependencies between different sectors and economies, and maximizing opportunities for synergies and co-benefits. Parliamentarians can explore actions across a range of intersecting issues from biodiversity conservation to migration and displacement in this A@A and Inter-Parliamentary Union issue brief.
• Filling data and information gaps – Ongoing research and data acquisition are required to better understand the impacts of climate change in mountain regions and to inform effective adaptation strategies. Existing, global inventories such as GEO Mountains  and regional monitoring networks such as the ROSA network should be expanded and better utilized to fill information gaps and promote coordination and connectivity between countries’ plans and projects. Platforms such as A@A’s own Solutions Portal and the weADAPT Mountains Theme support sharing information worldwide.
• Engaging local and Indigenous communities – Recognizing the value of local and Indigenous knowledge can lead to more sustainable adaptation approaches. Parliamentarians, policymakers, and researchers should engage with local and Indigenous communities in both the planning and implementation of adaptation actions and view them as agents of change. This A@A brief offers insights into how collaborating with Indigenous actors and harnessing their knowledge has supported climate change adaptation in mountain regions.
• Increasing the availability of funding for regional projects – Understanding and expanding available funding mechanisms and distributions are vital to support climate change adaptation in mountain regions. During the period from 2011 to 2019, approximately 6% of all bilaterally or multilaterally funded adaptation projects were focused on mountain regions. As this A@A public funding brief underscores, this is just a tiny fraction of the money needed.