WMO and the Mountain Research Initiative have agreed to work more closely together in view of the growing impact of the climate crisis on mountain ecosystems, economies and communities.
A new Memorandum of Understanding, which cements a decade of collaboration, seeks to leverage the joint power of to engage these diverse communities, to bring together the data available and to improve the reliability of forecasts and predictions.
"Together we can better influence major international policy frameworks and high-level international climate, weather and water initiatives to enable concrete actions on addressing impacts of mountain ecosystems and the cryosphere, at regional and global levels," said WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo.
"Strengthening the collaboration between MRI and WMO underlines the importance of fostering knowledge for action in the service of societies around the world. It draws urgent attention to mountain regions, where biospheres and cryospheres are particularly vulnerable to global climate change, and where communities are actively engaged in adapting to its impacts," said Jörg Balsiger, Professor of Sustainable Development at the University of Geneva and Chair of the Mountain Research Initiative, which connects to over 10,000 experts from more than 160 countries.
They signed the Memorandum of Understanding at the start of the International Year of Glaciers' Preservation 2025 . Additionally, the UN General Assembly has declared 2023-2027 as the "Five Years of Action for the Development of Mountain Regions." These seek to increase awareness of the vital role glaciers, snow, and ice play in the climate system and hydrological cycle, as well as the far-reaching impacts of rapid glacial melt and their impacts on economies and communities.
Studies have shown that temperatures at high elevations are rising 1.5 to 2 times faster than the global average. Mountains are considered "hotspots" for climate change impacts. Melting snow and ice also reduces the capacity to reflect the rays of the sun and so absorbs more heat in what is known as a climate feedback loop.
Mountains are vital for the global water resources, biodiversity and ecosystems, as well as for tourism and recreation. At the same time, they pose an increasing risk of natural hazards (for instance from glacial lake outbursts and landslides).
Despite their importance, mountains are paid scant attention in international agreements. The Paris Agreement on climate change makes no mention of mountains and the cryosphere, while the Sustainable Development Goals only makes brief reference.
In most countries, the responsibility for hydro-meteorological information and services for mountain regions rests with multiple agencies, ministries, and stakeholders.
The value of the collaboration between WMO and MRI was demonstrated through the success of the WMO High Mountain Summit (2019) and the actions fostered by that global event.
Proposed collaboration:
The agreement envisages closer cooperation in a number of areas, including:
- Mountain observations and monitoring, data access, advancing research, innovative information products, assessments, etc.
- Knowledge transfer through science-policy platforms to decision-making in national, regional and global policy outreach activities.
- Exchange of data and information from stations and observatories in mountain regions - as operated by the research community and from the national hydrometeorological agencies.
The Mountain Research Initiative is an international research coordination network, which connects connects mountain researchers, management, governmental and non-governmental institutions, and the private sector.
The MRI Coordination Office was founded in 2001 and is supported with core funding from the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT). It is hosted at the University of Bern, the Centre for Development and Environment.
