Mountains are invaluable natural assets. These regions are home to 15% of the global population and nearly half of its biodiversity hotspots. They are home to a wide variety of flora and fauna and many distinct communities with different languages, cultures, and traditions. Mountainsinclude all regions with glaciers, snow, or permafrost, and river/lake ice. River basins with headwaters in the mountains supply freshwater to local as well as all communities downstream who
benefit directly or indirectly from these services,vensuring food and water security.

Climate change, overexploitation of resources, and pollution threaten mountains, putting people and mountains at peril. Water flow is threatened by climate change, and rising temperatures are driving mountain people and ecosystem-dependent species to adapt or relocate. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) projects up to 84% of indigenous mountain species are at risk of extinction, and many mountainous plant and animal species may decline and go extinct.

Despite its significance, mountains still do not get due attention and recognition in global forums. As the vital ecosystem services provided by mountains have been neglected by the global monitoring system, it is now critical to prioritize mountain areas in all global action plans. A unified mountain voice is urgently needed to address the growing concern about the effects of climate change on mountain communities and the ecosystem services they provide. The urgency of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius must be complemented by a focus on regional and global cooperation to enhance mountain peoples’ well-being,
boost ecosystem diversity, stability, and sustainability, and identify sustainable development options that consider local requirements.