Program

Adaptation at Altitude

Active project

2019–2027

Program contact

Climate change adaptation in mountains is a far-reaching issue that requires global attention. All countries of the world are in one way or another concerned by climate impacts in the mountains. Temperatures are rising more rapidly at altitude. Water resources are impacted by variable climate patterns. Natural hazards – and their downstream consequences – are occurring more frequently and intensely, placing some of the world’s most vulnerable areas at an even greater risk. Therefore, adapting to climate change in mountains is essential for ensuring the well-being of mountain and lowland communities and the long-term sustainability of mountain ecosystems.

The Adaptation at Altitude (A@A) programme, which began in 2019, aims to increase the resilience and adaptive capacity of mountain communities and ecosystems 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 program seeks to foster exchange of such information among the mountain areas of the world to help in the search for short- and long-term solutions to the problems arising from climate change. In its second phase (2024-2027), the program will build on achievements from its first four years.

SEI’s work in the program focuses on knowledge management and exchange, and on the creation of community of practice for climate change adaptation opportunities in mountains.

Thus far, this work has led to the creation of:

The Adaptation at Altitude Knowledge Network – This community of practice aims to support and encourage communication and engagement between stakeholders working on climate change adaptation in mountains. SEI created the network for as part of its work in the program.
A “Climate Change Adaptation in Mountains” theme on weADAPT – The mountains theme is a community learning and networking space that can be used to share work, provide information on relevant events, and connect with others working on related topics. SEI and partners at the University of Geneva and the Zoï Environment Network established this theme we weADAPT, SEI’s global climate change adaptation platform and network.
The Adaptation at Altitude Solutions Portal – The portal offers users a way to explore tried and tested climate change adaptation solutions for mountain regions and to see who has implemented the solutions and where they have been implemented. The portal was also created by a partnership of SEI, the University of Geneva, and the Zoï Environment Network.

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. They also supply freshwater for lowland irrigation and domestic use for half of the global population. Mountains provide essential ecosystem services for livelihoods. With their rich ethnic and cultural diversity and magical natural beauty, they offer recreation and restoration for residents and visitors alike.

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. Traditional adaptation strategies need to be blended with innovative approaches and this knowledge needs to be shared among the mountain communities and with policymakers so that adaptation can match the scale of the changes.

The Adaptation at Altitude Solutions Portal allows you to explore tried and tested climate change adaptation solutions for mountain regions, to see where they have been implemented, and to learn more about successful strategies in the mountains. The program aims to foster exchange among the mountain areas of the world and promote short- and long-term solutions to the problems arising from climate change.

Download the Adaptation at Altitude Solutions Portal Flyer here.

Peruvian women in national clothing, Sacred Valley, Peru

Introducing the new Adaptation at Altitude Solutions Portal

Feature / The Adaptation at Altitude Solutions Portal is a searchable database for information about climate change adaptation measures targeting mountain regions.

15 June 2021 / About Adaptation

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.

The Adaptation at Altitude program, 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.

One way we are doing this is through the development of an online Adaptation at Altitude (A@A) Knowledge Network. Based on the theory of a community of practice, the A@A Knowledge Network aims to support and encourage communication and engagement between stakeholders working on climate change adaptation in mountains.

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 see about our upcoming meetings and events: The Adaptation at Altitude Knowledge Network – weADAPT

The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation funds and co-manages the program.

SEI is one of seven partners carrying out work in the project. SEI’s focus concerns creating a community of practice on climate change adaptation opportunities in mountains.

The program partners are:

Mountain Research Initiative – a coordination network for the global mountain research community. Programme focus: strengthening the global network, GEO Mountains, the Group on Earth Observations (GEO) Global Network for Observations and Information in Mountain Environments, an initiative that seeks to to identify, collate and make accessible transboundary and inter- and transdisciplinary data and information pertaining to environmental, ecological and societal systems and their changes in mountainous regions globally.
Consorcio para el Desarollo Sostenible de la Ecoregión Andina – a non-governmental organization based in Ecuador and Peru working for the conservation of mountain ecosystems and well-being of rural communities in the Andean region. Programme focus: science-policy dialogue and sharing of experiences in the Andes.
International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development – an intergovernmental knowledge and learning centre working on behalf of the people of the Hindu Kush Himalaya. Based in Kathmandu, Nepal, the centre works in and for eight regional member countries – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan. Programme focus: science-policy dialogue and sharing of experience in the Hindu Kush Himalaya.
United Nations Environment Programme – the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the UN system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. Programme focus: science-policy dialogue, inter-regional collaboration and sharing of experience in various regions.
University of Geneva – Switzerland’s second-largest university. Programme focus: knowledge on climate change adaptation opportunities in mountains.
Zoï Environment Network – Swiss non-profit organization that provides analysis and training, policy dialogue and communication services to governments, international organizations and NGOs. Programme focus: influencing global policy processes related to climate change, disaster risk reduction and the Sustainable Development Goals.