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

The Food and 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 and announcing the winners of the first-ever Mountain Future Award.

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

“This year’s theme…honours Indigenous Peoples, youth, women and 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 and innovative financing for small and 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 and entrepreneurship, while also valuing traditional techniques and 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 and nearly half of global biodiversity hotspots. They provide fresh water, regulate weather patterns, and are critical carbon sinks, but face increasing pressures from climate change, land degradation, and economic marginalization.

Launch of a new publication

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

Key Messages from the Report:

• Indigenous Peoples, women, and youth play a key role in fostering climate resilience in mountain regions through their local knowledge and leadership.
• Knowledge Sharing and 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 and 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, and 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, and incubation assistance from the FAO Mountain Partnership Secretariat which receives support from the governments of Italy, Switzerland and Andorra, and FAO.

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

The event also featured a short video on the innovative collaboration between Italian designer Vivia Ferragamo and 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 and strengthening local economies.

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