Officially established by the United Nations in 2003 and celebrated every year on 11 December, International Mountain Day is a unique opportunity to reflect on the importance of mountains for the health and well-being of the planet and its people.
Despite their grandeur, mountains are particularly vulnerable to climate change, deforestation, urbanisation and resource exploitation. Global warming is accelerating the melting of mountain glaciers, threatening water supplies for millions of people. In addition, many mountain communities face problems of poverty and isolation.
The event therefore aims to raise awareness of the value of mountains, not only as places of outstanding natural beauty, but also as vital ecosystems and habitats for many human communities. To this end, a theme is chosen for the celebration each year, and this year's theme is 'Mountain solutions for a sustainable future - innovation, adaptation, youth and beyond'. The focus is on innovative solutions, promoting adaptation strategies and empowering young people for a sustainable future.
The keywords of this year's event are therefore:
- Innovation: The Importance of technological advances, such as digital tools and creative solutions, to effectively monitor and conserve mountain ecosystems;
- Adaptation: The need for strategies to build resilience in the face of climate change, with a focus on reducing the risk of catastrophic events;
- Youth empowerment: Active and inclusive participation of new generations in decision-making processes to ensure the sustainability of future solutions.
In this sense, meteoblue offers a wide range of tools to contribute to mountain conservation.
First of all, historical and climate data that can support research on climate trends in mountain regions. Many research projects, including the Miage Glacier Project, use meteoblue data to monitor the impact of climate change on glacier retreat.
Among the essential tools for implementing adaptation and mitigation measures that meteoblue provides is climate+, which includes tools for assessing hazards such as snowmelt, landslides and heavy rainfall, which are essential for early warning systems and disaster preparedness in mountain regions.
These and many other services make meteoblue a valuable tool for researchers, policy makers and conservation organisations working to protect mountain environments while adapting to the challenges of a changing climate.
