The World Meteorological Organization (VMO) and the initiative to study the mountainous regions have agreed on closer cooperation due to the growing impact of the climatic crisis on mountain ecosystems, economics and community.
According to research, temperatures at high altitudes grow 1.5-2 times faster than on average in the world. Mountains are considered “hot dots” of the effect of climate change. The melting of snow and ice reduces the ability to reflect the sun’s rays, which leads to the absorption of the planet of even larger volumes of heat.
According to the VMO press service, in order to attract attention to this problem and the search for its solution, a new memorandum of understanding has been signed, which consolidates a decade of cooperation between the two organizations.
The document is aimed at combining efforts to protect mountain ecosystems. In particular, the agreement provides for closer cooperation in a number of areas, including: observation and monitoring of mountains, access to data, research promotion, innovative information products, estimates, etc.; the transfer of knowledge through scientific and political platforms for decision-making within the framework of national, regional and global events to promote politics; The exchange of data and information from stations and observatories in mining regions, carried out by the research community and national hydrometeorological agencies.
“Together, we can better affect the main international political decisions and high -level international initiatives in the field of climate, weather and water to ensure specific actions to solve the problems of mountain ecosystems and cryospheres at the regional and global levels,” said VMO Secretary General of VMO SELEST Saulo.
The signing of the Memorandum coincided with the announcement of the General Assembly of the UN of the period of 2023-2027 “the five-year period of actions for the development of mountain regions.”
These actions are aimed at increasing awareness of the important role of glaciers, snow and ice in the climatic system and the hydrological cycle, as well as the consequences of the rapid melting of glaciers for the economy and communities.
The mountains are vital for world aquatic resources, biodiversity and ecosystems, as well as for tourism and recreation. At the same time, they are a growing risk of natural disasters (for example, breakthroughs of glacial lakes and landslides).
Despite their importance, the mountains do not receive sufficient attention in international agreements. The Paris Climate Change Agreement does not mention mountains and cryosfer, and the goals of sustainable development only briefly mention this.
In most countries, the responsibility for hydrometeorological information and maintenance of mining regions lies with several agencies, ministries and interested parties.
The initiative to study mountainous areas is an international research coordination network that unites mining researchers, leadership, government and non -governmental institutions, as well as a private sector.