1. Mandate

Decision 1/CMA.5, para 181 requested the Chair of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) to hold an expert dialogue on mountains and climate change at the sixtieth session of the SBSTA (June 2024).
 

2. Objectives

Overall, the expert dialogue will provide space for scientists, policymakers and frontline communities to come together and share knowledge, experience and insights on strengthening the resilience of mountain ecosystems.

Specifically, the expert dialogue will provide a unique opportunity to convene relevant experts and stakeholders with the aim of:

• Enhancing understanding of climate change impacts on mountains and downstream communities, including in a transboundary context;
• Showcasing solutions contributing to the resilience of mountain ecosystems to climate change;
• Discussing ways to accelerate climate action at scale and at all levels, contributing to the resilience of mountain ecosystems, including in countries with fragile mountain ecosystems.

The dialogue will focus on understanding past and possible forward-looking actions in relation to research and systematic observation, dimensions of the iterative adaptation cycle and loss and damage, mitigation strategies, means of implementation and support (financial support, capacity-building, and technology development and transfer).

In addition, the expert dialogue is envisioned to contribute to the UAE framework for Global Climate Resilience.

Please see the concept note for further details.
 

3. Scope of the dialogue:

While issues related to mountains and climate change are multifaceted and vary from region to region, the expert dialogue will only focus on specific topics of relevance.

To ensure that the topics and ensuing questions are most relevant, findings from the analyses of relevant national reports (such as national adaptation plans, national communications and nationally determined contributions) of countries in mountain regions have been used as initial inputs to identify thematic areas and cross-cutting issues for the expert dialogue.

The whole day event will be divided into three parts, namely:

I. Background and context

• Vulnerability of mountains, including transboundary issues and impacts on downstream communities;
• Role of mountains in building climate resilience;
• Research and systematic observation.

II. Solutions contributing to resilience of mountainous ecosystems to climate change

• Dimensions of the iterative adaptation cycle and loss and damage;
• Mitigation strategies;
• Means of implementation and support (financial support, capacity-building, technology development and transfer).

III. Accelerating climate action in mountains

• Building a collective vision towards resilience of mountainous ecosystems;
• Strengthening efforts, including long-term transformational and incremental adaptation, towards achieving the targets under the Global Goal on Adaptation, in the context of implementing the UAE framework for Global Climate Resilience, insofar as it relates to mountainous ecosystems.
   

4. Conduct of the expert dialogue

Ahead of the expert dialogue taking place during SB 60, the SBSTA Chair will organize an informal virtual meeting to initiate the technical discussion on various topics (please see below for more information). The outcomes of the informal meeting will be used to finalize the agenda for the expert dialogue. 

The expert dialogue will take place on 5 June 2024, during SB 60, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. It will be divided into two parts:

• A dialogue on the different thematic aspects related to mountains and climate change;
• A concluding panel to summarize key findings and recommendations.
   

In addition, the expert dialogue will include the following considerations in its design and/or methodology:

• Discussions will revolve around various themes aligned with the topics presented above.
• It will be interactive and will use a combination of case study presentations and facilitated discussion.
• The facilitated discussion will be based on guiding questions drafted with inputs from a variety of experts.

The secretariat will prepare an informal summary report under the guidance of the SBSTA Chair. The report will capture the proceedings and outcomes of the dialogue and will be made available on the dialogue webpage.

5. Informal virtual meeting (13 May 2024 from 12:00 to 14:30, CEST)

The Chair of the SBSTA will convene an informal virtual meeting to inform the organization of the Expert Dialogue on Mountains and Climate Change. The objective of this informal virtual meeting is to initiate technical discussion on various topics to further inform the design and delivery of the dialogue. Please see notifications for Parties here and for UN, IGOs and NGOs here.