The ‘international conference on Mountain People Adapting to Change: Solutions beyond boundaries bridging science, policy, and practice’, held in Kathmandu from 9 to12 November 2014, sought to break down the boundaries between science, policy, and practice in adaptation to climatic and other changes in the mountains and downstream areas of the Hindu Kush Himalayas. Organized by ICIMOD in partnership with the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Environment, Nepal, the conference brought together over 300 policy makers, development practitioners, climate experts, researchers, and journalists working in the area of climate change and adaptation. It provided a platform for the sharing of information and fostered rich discussions between policy makers, researchers, and practitioners.
This publication presents the proceedings and outcomes of the conference, which aimed to find holistic approaches to adaptation that extend beyond political, sectoral, and national boundaries, and that bridge mountain and non-mountain interfaces. Sessions were devoted to consolidating global and regional knowledge and translating them into systematic policy and action; transboundary and transdisciplinary benefit and knowledge sharing; disaster risk reduction and preparedness; the vulnerability and resilience of communities and livelihoods; adapting global climate science and models to the HKH context; and emerging fields of climate research such as black carbon and its impacts on the cryosphere. The conference also addressed a number of crosscutting themes such as gender and power imbalances, knowledge management and dissemination, and enhanced communication between stakeholders. These themes were integrated into the discussions at several sessions as key concerns for adaptation science, assessing policies, and formulating action.