Number of questions: [6]
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Posted on 15/03/2008 06:34:28 |
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How can the general people understand and believe that climate change is really affecting the mountains which in turn could affect the downstream communities?I think it is also important to aware the people living downstream about the consequencies of climate change so that they can be aware themselves about the possible danger.
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B K Dalit (from Nepal)
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I totally agree with you that is extremely important to make downstream communities aware of climate change and its consequences. That's exactly why we are organizing the conference on Mountain Climate Change in a lowland territory and not in the mountains.
We will publish the results of the conference and I hope you will get a copy!
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Posted on 14/03/2008 14:23:09 |
Dear Mr. Pier Carlo Sandei:
Given your background, what are your thoughts/opinions on the current legal framework governing climate change; more specifically as it affects your particular area of expertise?
Also, what resources might you suggest to someone interested in finding out more on this topic from a legal perspective?
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Gary Nolan (from Canada)
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Dear Gary,
unfortunately there aren't international agreements specific on mountain climate change.
Obviously, being climate change a global issue, it makes no sense to tackle this topic at regional level, at the contrary, adaptation strategies and the relevant cooperation among neighbouring countries is essential and we are promoting these instruments in the framework of the existing international treaties.
The Alpine convention, the first international treaty on a mountainous region, adopted at the last Conference of the Ministries a declaration on Climate Change and is currently working on an action plan.
In the Carpathian convention we discussed the topic of climate change in the framework of the working group on Sustainable forest management and in the framework of a study on water.
The documents I mentioned you are available on the websites of the alpine convention: www.convenzionedellealpi.it (unfortunately not in English but just in the official languages of the alpine region - French, German, Italian and Slovenian) and on the websites of the Carpathian convention: www.carpathianconvention.org www.carpathianproject.eu
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Posted on 14/03/2008 13:52:17 |
1. What is UNEP's stand on the use of snow machines on European ski runs and their impact on mountain ecosystems?
2. What steps are you taking to better inform communities living in and around mountain areas on the effects of their activities on the environment, and the potential impact of climate change on their future?
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Eric Nyagah (from Kenya)
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Dear Eric, thank you for your question.
Winter sports and tourism are big business in many of the world’s mountain areas. They offer important sources of revenue and employment for sometimes remote communities as well as healthy, pleasurable recreation for millions. In many communities, downhill and cross-country skiing, tobogganing, snow boarding and other winter sports are also important cultural and family activities
With the current trends of climate change, many low altitude ski resorts face economic hardship and even ruin as a result of global warming and the ability of individual ski areas to absorb additional snowmaking costs may be the crucial factor in remaining economically viable.
But as you correctly said, is not only an economic question but it has a lot of effects also on the ecosystems. Studies demonstrated that artificial snow lies longer than natural snow, therefore favoured snowbed plants such as the alpine snowbell (Soldanella alpine) and later-flowering species such as heather (Calluna vulgaris) over gentians and other early-flowerers.
These shifts in species composition became more prominent the longer snowmakers had been used
In order to promote environmental protection, UNEP has developed an active Sport and Environment Programme to promote the links between sport and the environment and therefore reach a wider public.
In February 2003 the UNEP Governing Council adopted a long-term strategy on sport and the environment, which seeks to further reinforce UNEP’s work in this field. The strategy also seeks to strengthen partnerships with sports organisations and federations, and specifically requests UNEP to initiate cooperation with Olympic host cities.
In this framework we worked with Torino as Olympic town in order to minimize water use in snow-making at the last winter olympic games.
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Posted on 14/03/2008 10:29:41 |
Dear Mr. Pier Carlo Sandei,
Firstly, how reliable is the tree ring data on providing early indicators of climate change?
Secondly, what are the challenges that you face in the course of addressing issues pertaining to mountain glaciers that have continued to melt and retreat over the last two decades?
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Francis Bagambilana (from Tanzania (United Republic of))
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Dear Francis, thank you very much for your request and for your interest on mountains.
The tree rings are a very reliable instrument for identifying climate changes. In particular it can help in identifying dry or wet periods and cold or warm periods. A large ring, in a usually dry environment, is an indicator of a period with a lot of water, while if the tree is coming from an high altitude location (where temperature is the main factor) it is an indicator of relatively warm period.
Until few years ago they were the main indicator of climate changes, while in the last years also coral reefs and other indicators are used.
As per the second part of your question, the melting of glaciers is a problem because it affects several ecosystem services provided by mountains, biodiversity, water cycle, landslides and rock falls, tourism. The main challenge we face in addressing this topic is to raise awareness on the fact that these effects are not limited to mountains regions but are actually more relevant for people leaving in the lowlands. Mountain people will always have enough water for them, while in the future there might not be enough water in the rivers of the lowlands.
Adaptation strategies are therefore essential in mountains and also the lowlands population would greatly benefit from these interventions.
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Posted on 14/03/2008 06:36:16 |
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What strategies do you propose for educating policy-makers in your area of specialization ?
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Centre for Environment Education (from India)
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Thank you for your question!
The UN General Assembly in this year resolution on sustainable development of mountains regions states that “that mountains provide early indications of global climate change”.
The alpine glaciers, high altitude lakes, the upper tree line, the biodiversity and the vegetation in general present in the mountains are precise and sensible indicators of climate change.
The vulnerability of other ecosystems (mainly the coral reef) is well know to the public as it is well publicized. What is not so evident is that mountains are very sensible to small changes in temperature and can then provide an early indicator of climate change.
Moreover, mountain ecosystem services (such as water purification and climate regulation) extend beyond their geographical boundaries and affect all continental mainlands. Climate change effects are not limited to the mountains. In fact an earlier and shortened snow-melt period, with rapid water release and downstream floods which, in combination with reduced glacier extent, could cause water shortage during the growing season is of importance also of non/mountains community.
A lack of snow cover exposes plants and animals to frost and influences water supply in spring as well as it is connected with avalanches, rock fall, fire, wind and herbivore damage.
The General Assembly resolution “Encourages also the scientific community, national governments and inter-governmental organizations to collaborate with mountain communities to jointly study and address the negative effects of global climate change on mountain environments” .
UNEP is organizing a conference on "Mountains as Early indicators of Climate change" on 17-18 april 2008 in Padova in order to raise awareness on the role of mountains and their importance for humankind.
We hope that initiatives like this might contribute to the education of the policy makers but also to promote the topic among the local populations.
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Posted on 14/03/2008 00:44:26 |
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What is the United State's view on sustainable development in Asia?
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Caitlyn (from United States of America)
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Dear Caitlyn,
Thank you for your question. However, in order for me to provide you with a proper answer, I would appreciate it if you could reformulate your question to align it with today’s topic.
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