The IPCC – the United Nations body for assessing the science related to climate change – is currently in its sixth assessment cycle. The release of the Working Group II contribution to the Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) – entitled Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability – is set to take place on 28 February 2022, subject to the approval of the Summary for Policymakers by governments.

What happens in mountains directly affects one fourth of the world’s population, and more than half of humanity relies on freshwater from mountains. However, decisions about mountain resources are often made outside of the mountains, and mountains have received limited attention on global agendas. But in 2017, IPCC decided to feature a Cross-Chapter Paper (CCP) on Mountains in its AR6 WGII report, with ICIMOD’s Philippus Wester serving as co-lead alongside Carolina Adler from the Mountain Research Initiative (MRI). Starting in January 2019, they have been working with a team of six IPCC lead authors and numerous contributing authors to review the existing scientific literature on mountains, and contribute to the upcoming report focusing on impacts, adaptation, and vulnerability.

AR6 will serve to bring international knowledge on climate change up to date, examining the impacts and risks, and outlining potential mitigation and adaptation options. The report is being developed by three IPCC Working Groups: Working Group I deals with the physical science basis of climate change; Working Group II with impacts, adaptation, and vulnerability; and, Working Group III with mitigation.

ICIMOD, as an observer organization of the IPCC, will be attending and contributing to the plenary approval of the Working Group II report which starts on 14 February 2022 and runs through 25 February 2022. The opening ceremony on 14 February, starting at 10:00 am CET will be streamed live without the need for registration. Details of how to follow the livestream will be made available on the IPCC website.

A virtual press conference to present the WG II Summary for Policymakers is scheduled for Monday, 28 February 2022 at 10:00 am CET.

The press conference will be streamed live. Further details about scheduled speakers and how to access the livestream will be shared via the IPCC website closer to the time. Registered media will also receive details on how to submit questions closer to the time. The deadline for registration is Friday, 18 February 2022.

The IPCC Chair, Working Group II Co-Chairs, and report authors will be available for interviews after the press conference. More information for media is available here.

For media enquiries directed to ICIMOD related to the Cross-Chapter Paper on Mountains, please write to media@icimod.org.

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