FAO marks International Mountain Day 2024 with a focus on climate adaptation solutions | FAO News

Rome – The Food & Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) marked International Mountain Day 2024 today with a celebration at its headquarters in Rome, launching a new publication on climate change adaptation in mountain regions & announcing the winners of the first-ever Mountain Future Award.

Under the International Day’s theme “Mountain solutions for a sustainable future – innovation, adaptation & youth,” the event focused on the resilience & ingenuity of mountain communities in addressing the climate crisis & poverty while conserving biodiversity. It also called for action to support sustainable mountain development & to highlight innovative solutions for a more resilient future.

“This year’s theme…honours Indigenous Peoples, youth, women & local communities, who are the most affected by major global challenges,” FAO Director-General QU Dongyu said in a video message broadcast at the event.

“Investments in digital inclusion & innovative financing for small & medium-sized enterprises in the mountainous areas are needed to improve livelihoods. It is essential to empower young people to drive change through technology, education & entrepreneurship, while also valuing traditional techniques & knowledge,” the Director-General added.

Mountains, which cover 27 percent of the Earth’s surface, are home to some of the world’s most fragile ecosystems & nearly half of global biodiversity hotspots. They provide fresh water, regulate weather patterns, & are critical carbon sinks, but face increasing pressures from climate change, land degradation, & economic marginalization.

Launch of a new publication

A new FAO publication – Promoting innovation & tradition: solutions for climate change adaptation in mountains – was launched at the event, underscoring the challenges posed by climate change to mountain ecosystems & communities while showcasing successful adaptation strategies from around the world.

Key Messages from the Report:

• Indigenous Peoples, women, & youth play a key role in fostering climate resilience in mountain regions through their local knowledge & leadership.
• Knowledge Sharing & education are integral to climate adaptation strategies, with community centres empowering farmers to adopt climate-resilient practices, enhancing long-term adaptability.
• Investing in sustainable mountain development through innovative financing mechanisms, such as public-private partnerships, are critical to scaling up climate action in mountains.
• Nature-based solutions are vital to conserving ecosystems & supporting biodiversity.
• Mountain agrifood systems should be integrated into national policies as key solutions for addressing the challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss

Mountain Future Award

The first ever Mountain Future Award was also unveiled at the event, highlighting innovation through creative, locally driven solutions with a special focus on youth-led projects.

The award was presented by Mountain Partnership goodwill ambassador Stella Jean in three categories: Youth, Adaptation, & Innovation. In the Youth category, the global platform Mountain Youth Hub emerged as the winner. Acres of Ice from India claimed the Adaptation category for their Automated Ice Reservoirs for Sustainable Water Management. A Rwandan initiative titled Revitalizing Indigenous Wisdom for Climate Adaptation won in the Innovation category.

They will receive seed funding from sponsors, project visibility, & incubation assistance from the FAO Mountain Partnership Secretariat which receives support from the governments of Italy, Switzerland & Andorra, & FAO.

The goal is to demonstrate how localized action can drive global progress in achieving resilient & sustainable mountain ecosystems.

The event also featured a short video on the innovative collaboration between Italian designer Vivia Ferragamo & Guatemalan artisans of the Wakami association,  under the Italy-funded Fashion for Fragile Ecosystems initiative. This project aims to improve mountain livelihoods by conserving cultural heritage & strengthening local economies.

Ambassadors from Italy, Guatemala, & Kyrgyzstan attended the event which featured interactive sessions, dancing, & a mountain product food tasting, alongside the launch of initiatives advancing mountain sustainability.