Adaptation at Altitude

The programme targets in first priority policy and decision-makers responsible for climate change adaptation in developing countries with mountain areas, who will benefit from increased knowledge on climate change impacts, climate change adaptation solutions and related resources in their regions. Another important target group are scientists profiting from additional and accessible data and space in policy-dialogue platforms. Implementers (e.g. from governments, NGOs) of climate change adaptation solutions are the third target group, benefitting from the collection of proven solutions and the community of practice built around them.

The ultimate beneficiaries are vulnerable mountain communities in which resilience to climate change is strengthened through implementation of adaptation solutions.

Outcome 1: Knowledge on climate change impacts and adaptation in mountains is facilitated through integrated monitoring, improved access to relevant and interoperable Earth observation data, information and syntheses products, and research-based services.

Outcome 2: Mountain climate change adaptation is mainstreamed into regional planning and policy processes, and regional collaborative action & advocacy are fostered as a result of strengthened science-policy dialogue, targeted resource mobilization and interregional exchange and learning. 

Outcome 3: Knowledge on climate change adaptation information and solutions in mountains is fostered, exchanged, discussed, and easily accessible, and its application is promoted at local, regional and global level.

Outcome 4: UNFCCC and other relevant major global processes and policy frameworks are evidence-informed and incorporate climate change adaptation strategies for mountain regions. 

Erwartete Resultate:  

• Knowledge products based on data/information of mountain regions supporting global assessments and policy processes
• Formalized (institutionalized, operational) regional governance mechanisms/platforms in the four targeted mountain regions for coherent and evidence-based climate change adaptation
• Interregional exchange to improve further operationalization of regional mountain governance mechanisms and advance common interests at global policy level
• Assessment of effectiveness and sustainability of mountain climate change adaptation solutions
• Community of practice that shares knowledge and experience, develops approaches, deepens learning and advances solutions for climate change adaptation in mountains
• Guidance and tools for policy makers on how to address mountain specific climate change adaptation challenges and opportunities

Resultate von früheren Phasen:  

• Established data and information inventories of mountain regions as baselines for identifying observational gaps; related knowledge products and tools that informed science-policy dialogue at regional and global level (e.g. input to IPCC AR6).
• Strengthened science-policy platforms on sustainable mountain development in the Andes, East Africa, the South Caucasus and Hindu Kush Himalaya informing policy making and contributing to formalizing regional mountain governance.
• Online space presenting close to 100 solutions for climate change adaptation in a mountain context suited for up-/out-scaling, evaluated by experts.
• Inter-regional exchange and action learning among mountain regions, targeting the programme’s focus regions and coordinated with the Alps, Carpathians, Pyrenees, Central Asia and the Arctic.
• Numerous knowledge products and services, incl. scientific peer-reviewed publications recognized in the IPCC AR6, briefs addressing practitioners and policy makers, awareness- and capacity-building events or workshops. 

• Contribution to the Mountain Research Initiative (MRI) - Lead for Outcome 1
• Contribution to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Lead for Outcome 2 - East Africa and South Caucasus
• Contribution to the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) - Lead for Outcome 2 – Hindu Kush Himalaya
• Project implementation mandade to the consortium Zoi Environment Network (Lead) - Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) - University of Geneva (UniGE) – Lead for Outcomes 3 and 4

The programme links with and is complementary to past, ongoing and new SDC projects in the Andes, the HKH, Central Asia and the South Caucasus (e.g. Andes Resilientes, Bosques Andinos, CROMO-ADAPT, Glaciares, Strengthening State Strategies for Climate Adaptation, ICIMOD, Strengthening Climate Adaptation Capacities in the South  Caucasus). It exchanges with SDC’s Climate Change, DRR & Environment network for the collection of adaptation solutions and knowledge products.

Coordination with the Swiss engagement in the framework of relevant global policy processes (e.g. UN, UNFCCC, Climate Finance Mechanisms, Antarktisvertrag) are ensured.

Complementary to the Mountains ADAPT and PRIMA projects co-financed by the Austrian Development Cooperation is ensured.