Please note that this session was withdrawn and is no longer available in the respective programme. This withdrawal might have been the result of a merge with another session.

CL3.6

Adaptation to future climatic pressures on natural and human systems in vulnerable mountain regions
Convener: Pierluigi Calanca  | Co-Conveners: Markus Stoffel , Nadine Salzmann 

Mountains are recognized as particularly sensitive bio-physical environments, and in many cases offer only limited possibilities for social and economic development. Impacts from climate change have become increasingly evident in mountain areas in recent years, with rapidly retreating glaciers being one of the most obvious indicators. In view of the vulnerability of natural and human systems, climate projections for the next years and decades suggest severe negative impacts. The adoption of effective measures of adaptation will therefore be crucial. This is particularly true for countries in development, where adaptive capacities are often limited by restricted economic possibilities.

To be able to evaluate and implementing viable measures of adaptation a sound scientific baseline is required. Mountain regions, however, are particularly challenging environments for climate and climate change science due to rugged terrain, small-scale variability, limited monitoring networks, in particular in developing countries. New interdisciplinary projects such as ACQWA and PACC have started to address these questions in Europe and South America.

The aim of this session is to explore how climate change is and will be affecting natural and economic resources in vulnerable mountain regions and what possibilities may exist to cope with climatic risks. Specifically, the session aims to bring together scientists working on the scientific basis of climate change adaptation in mountain region. The session welcomes contributions from different scientific disciplines and research programmes, in particular from developing countries.