Global Mountain Research Priorities Target Climate Uncertainty

An international team analysed 25 case studies from 18 countries across five continents to propose a new research programme aimed at strengthening the resilience, inclusivity and sustainability of mountain regions and the societies that rely on them. The synthesis, published in Cell Reports Sustainability, outlines five priority principles: co‑producing knowledge with local and Indigenous communities and decision‑makers; integrating social and biophysical sciences; and other approaches to turn uncertainty into an adaptation driver.

The report highlights accelerating climate impacts on mountains – glacier melt, permafrost thaw, water scarcity, biodiversity loss and threats to livelihoods such as fishing, agriculture, herding and tourism. With nearly half of the global population directly or indirectly dependent on mountain‑derived resources, the authors argue that current research, often limited to sectoral projections, must evolve to address the complex, uncertain transformations affecting these ecosystems and peoples.