Amanda Vestergaard sums up the mountain-related discussions and decisions that played out at the UN Climate Change Conference - COP29 - in Azerbaijan recently...

As climate change takes hold in our global mountain regions, climbers and mountaineers have adopted a more proactive role as observers and advocates of international climate politics. Over the past few years, UKC has made an effort to cover mountain-related outcomes of the annual United Nations Climate Change Conference. Last week, COP29 drew to a close in Baku, Azerbaijan, and the time has come yet again to examine and reflect on the scientific and political developments being made to safeguard mountain environments around the world.

In the mountaineering community, the critical importance of understanding how climate change shapes alpine environments is self-evident: we spend summers facing increasing dangers of rockfall and glacial instability, and winters searching for ever-scarcer snow packs to ski on. The older climbers among us, who were lucky enough to experience alpinism before the turn of the century, tell stories of UK ice climbs and healthy alpine glaciers that now sound like fairy tales. However, to fully understand how these landscapes are represented and discussed at large international climate meetings, we must look at these landscapes not just as recreational spaces, but as vital ecosystems that define the lives of millions of people. These people face escalating challenges, including reduced water security as glaciers retreat, heightened disaster risks from thawing permafrost and glacial lake floods, and the loss of cultural heritage tied to traditional alpine livelihoods and practices. 

At COP29, the world's mountain environments took centre stage as the conference spotlighted their growing vulnerability to climate change. Pressing issues such as cryosphere degradation, water scarcity and sustainable mountain tourism were at the forefront and were all addressed alongside ambitious efforts to enhance adaptation financing and foster regional cooperation for transboundary challenges, aiming to protect both the ecological and socio-economic stability of these vital landscapes. As the world comes to terms with what was (and perhaps more importantly, what was not) decided at COP29, let's review some of the key developments concerning mountain regions.

State of the Cryosphere Report 2024: "We cannot negotiate with the melting point of ice" 

The State of the Cryosphere Report 2024, presented during the first week of COP29, provided a critical update on the state of the planet's frozen regions, including glaciers, snowpacks, permafrost, and polar ice. Produced by the International Cryosphere Climate Initiative and supported by over 60 scientists, the report serves as a key scientific document highlighting alarming trends and emphasising the urgent need for climate action to mitigate irreversible damage. While the report presents a wide array of new findings, its most dire message involves the state of the world's glaciers. The report contains updated satellite data showing accelerated glacier loss, particularly in the Himalayas, Andes, and European Alps, surpassing past projections. In alarming new projections, it was revealed that glaciers previously expected to last until the middle of the century may now disappear within the decade. 

This year's cryosphere report comes at the end of two particularly high-loss years. In May, Venezuela became the first country in the world to lose all of its glaciers. With a predicted two years left, Indonesia's 'Eternity Glacier', the last tropical glacier in Asia, appears to be going next. Meanwhile, record low snowpacks were recorded in the Hindu-Kush Himalaya, with detrimental effects on downstream communities relying on these for water security.

The findings of this year's report were ultimately framed as a stark warning for policymakers, urging that immediate, decisive action is the only way to prevent escalating loss and damage from climate change. Scientists introduced a stronger push for integrating cryosphere-specific thresholds in climate agreements, advocating for prioritising 1.5°C as the absolute ceiling for global warming. In a strong concluding remark International Cryosphere Climate Initiative Director, Pam Pearson, begged delegations at COP29 to take these findings seriously:

"Policymakers cannot afford to ignore the spreading global damage from a warming cryosphere. It has been downplayed in the UN climate negotiations for far too long. We can change this at COP29. With the knowledge that each additional fraction of a degree of warming increases the risks and costs to all nations, now is the time to act. To save the cryosphere is to save ourselves".

Loss and damage financing

At COP29, the issue of loss and damage (L&D) financing was a key focus. Loss and damage refers to the effects of climate change that cannot be mitigated or adapted to, and which will therefore incur large economic burdens in the world's most vulnerable regions. Mountain areas, due to their unique geography and climatic conditions, are at particularly high risk of experiencing such losses. These regions face a range of challenges, including increased risk of natural disasters such as landslides and floods, and disruptions to vital water resources. As climate change accelerates, these challenges are expected to worsen, particularly in areas like the Himalayas, Andes, and Alps. At COP29, mountain nations and advocacy groups therefore called for specific financial mechanisms within the Loss and Damage Fund to address these unique vulnerabilities. Nepal, under the leadership of President Ram Chandra Paudel, organised a dedicated session to highlight the plight of mountain communities in the Hindu Kush Himalayas, with the glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) experienced in Thame earlier this year as a case in point.

Meanwhile, the Santiago Network for Loss and Damage also engaged with mountain nations to outline technical assistance priorities, such as improved risk assessments for GLOFs and landslides, alongside planning for the socio-economic impacts of cryosphere degradation. Regional organisations like ICIMOD presented compelling evidence, showing how the loss of glaciers and changing precipitation patterns disrupt ecosystems and livelihoods, and urging greater allocation of resources to address these issues. Ultimately, the presence of mountain advocates at COP29's L&D financing discussions underscored the urgent need for targeted funding to mitigate the specific socio-economic consequences of climate change faced in mountain communities, ensuring that their specific needs are reflected in global climate finance frameworks.

Preventing cryosphere feedback loops

Another topic of discussion during which mountain regions received special attention at COP29 involved a call for nations to formally include cryosphere feedbacks in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). These are the climate action plans that countries submit under the Paris Agreement, outlining national efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change. As the cryosphere melts due to rising temperatures, it amplifies climate change through positive feedback loops, such as increased albedo loss and methane release. According to this year's cryosphere report, most regions containing permafrost now appear to be emitting CO2 faster than they can sequester it. For this reason, incorporating cryosphere feedbacks into NDCs might involve adjusting emission reduction goals based on more accurate models of ice sheet dynamics or adding specific targets for reducing carbon emissions in sensitive mountain regions. 

This focus at COP29 underscores the growing recognition of mountains and cryosphere feedbacks in shaping long-term climate strategies and the importance of adapting global policy frameworks to address the specific vulnerabilities and potential of these ecosystems. As part of the push to include cryosphere feedbacks into NDCs, strategies for leveraging mountain environments for carbon sequestration were explored. While glaciers and permafrost themselves are not traditional carbon sinks, their preservation helps prevent the release of stored carbon and methane. The inclusion of carbon emissions resulting from cryosphere changes into a country's NDC therefore means that governments are now encouraged to protect and restore these areas as a way to enhance their climate mitigation efforts. Hopefully this means that we are likely to see a rise in international collaborations focused on mountain ecosystem conservation, and increased investment in the restoration and sustainable management of vulnerable cryospheric regions.

Tourism on the agenda 

For the first time, a dedicated thematic day at COP29 focused on the intersection of climate change and tourism, shedding light on the sector's significant environmental impacts, as well as its vulnerability to climate-related risks. Over 50 countries signed the Baku Declaration for Enhanced Climate Action in Tourism, committing to integrating sustainable tourism practices into their national climate policies. 

As a growing but vulnerable industry, mountain tourism featured heavily throughout the day, both in discussions concerning decarbonisation of the tourism sector, and in talks concerning the vulnerability of communities relying on snow-dependent tourism for local income. A series of side discussions for example addressed the impacts of extreme weather events and changing landscapes on tourism in the European Alps, where reduced snowfall and rising temperatures threaten tourism revenue. 

Ultimately, this growing recognition of tourism as both complicit and vulnerable when it comes to climate change underscores the urgent need for mountain tourism to transition to more sustainable models that can withstand the challenges posed by climate change, and ensure long-term resilience for both the environment and local communities​. Just weeks before COP29, the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) took a notable step towards this by becoming the first ever sporting federation to partner with the WMO. This partnership aims to help ski resorts and communities adapt to climate change by developing precise weather forecasting systems, raising awareness about climate impacts on winter sports, and promoting sustainable practices in mountain tourism. As we move into this year's ski season, this is definitely a partnership worth paying attention to.

Preparing for 2025: International Year of Glacier Preservation

As part of the broader push to protect mountain ecosystems, COP29 also served as a platform for nations to collaborate on and prepare for activities to take place throughout 2025, which was declared the 'International Year of Glacier Preservation' by the UN General Assembly back in 2022. The initiative was proposed by Tajikistan, and is intended to catalyse international cooperation and action to slow glacier loss and secure the future of mountain ecosystems that depend on these vital ice resources.

At COP29, the preparations for this landmark year were prominently discussed through a series of high-level events and dialogues focused on the cryosphere and its critical role in sustaining ecosystems and communities in mountain regions. Attention was for example drawn to the Global Glacier Casualty List, which tracks and documents the extinction of glaciers around the world due to climate change. The list currently features 15 glaciers that have been lost recently or are nearing extinction, with more set to be added over time as glaciers continue to melt. 

Meanwhile, ICIMOD (International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development) played a leading role in organising discussions around glacier monitoring, preservation strategies, and the integration of glacier-related issues into broader climate policy. Representatives from countries such as Nepal, India, and China highlighted the urgency of addressing glacier loss, particularly in the context of water and food security. A key focus was on fostering regional and international cooperation to manage glacier-fed water systems sustainably and to incorporate glacier preservation into climate finance and policy frameworks.

As the world prepares for 2025, the momentum gathered at COP29 aims to turn the spotlight on glaciers, ensuring that their preservation becomes a key priority in international climate action. In the coming year, we are therefore likely to see an increase in international conferences, research initiatives, and policy discussions dedicated to glacial preservation. Many organisations and institutions, including the World Glacier Monitoring Service, are preparing to launch key events and advocacy campaigns. In June, Tajikistan will host the International Conference on Glaciers' Preservation, and in September, the International Mountain Conference will be held in Innsbruck. The establishment of a UN Trust Fund for Glaciers' Preservation is scheduled for December next year. For those interested in following the developments of the International Year of Glacier Preservation, look out for news from organisations such as ICIMOD, WGMS, IUCN and WMO.

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