Geneva-Hosted COP-26 Hub Event: “A Fragile Future: Can Mountain Communities Adapt to Climate Change?”

Climate change threatens the vast high latitude and high altitude cold regions of the world. This session explores the impacts of climate change on the cryosphere in Latin America, Central Asia and the Andes; and anticipates the future dangers these regions will face. Hosted largely by the COP26 Cryosphere Pavilion Hub in Geneva, panelists discussed adaptation solutions and experiences, with a particular focus on mountain areas and developing countries.

Hosted by the University of Geneva, the Switzerland Moderator was Dr. Carolina Adler, Executive Director, Mountain Research Initiative (MRI) and IPCC AR6 WG2 Lead Author. Opening words came from Professor Jörg Balsiger, Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Geneva; and Professor Christian Huggel, University of Zürich. Regional impacts were explained by Randy Muñoz, PhD candidate from Peru, University of Zürich; Professor Martin Hölzle, University of Fribourg; and Professor Markus Stoffel, University of Geneva.

Dr. Elena Manaenkova, Deputy Secretary-General of WMO kindly moderated the Glasgow portion. Panelists included Dr. Radha Wagle, UNFCCC Focal Point, Nepal; Nino Tkhilava, UNFCCC Focal Point, Georgia; Janine Kuriger, Global Programme Climate Change and Environment, SDC; Marlene Kronenberg, University of Fribourg; Miguel Vera-Lugo, Consorcio para el Desarrollo Sostenible de la Ecorregión Andina; and Dr. Izabella Koziell, Deputy Director General, ICIMOD.

https://www.gecryohub.ch/session/a-fragile-future-can-mountain-communities-adapt-to-climate-change