Around 90 per cent of almost a billion mountain people in the world today live in developing and transitioning countries, such as those in the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region. Many live in poverty, and a third of mountain dwellers are vulnerable to food insecurity and acute hunger, often due to climatic stressors coupled with economic, political, demographic, and social changes. These vulnerabilities to changes, which are largely outside of mountain communities’ control, require a multifaceted approach to adaptation that addresses the needs and changing realities of mountain communities and the underlying causes of their vulnerability. To effectively support communities in adapting to change, solutions that look beyond political, sectoral, and national boundaries must be developed. This requires in-depth knowledge of both local conditions and broader global climate change trends.
This working paper details the key recommendations that emerged from the international conference on ‘Mountain People Adapting to Change: Solutions beyond boundaries bridging science, policy, and practice’, held in Kathmandu from 9 to 12 November 2014. The conference brought together over 300 experts and stakeholders from around the globe to draw together the latest knowledge, policies, and practices on adaptation and to strengthen the interface between science, policy, and practice.