Mountains

Mountains hold a significant position in the context of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They play a crucial role in providing key ecosystem services, including fresh water, energy, food, and biodiversity, which are essential to human well-being and sustainable development.

Starting with SDG 6, which emphasizes clean water and sanitation, mountains act as natural water towers, storing water in the form of ice and snow and releasing it into rivers. These rivers are a lifeline for millions of people living downstream, providing them with fresh water for drinking, irrigation, and energy production. In this regard, mountains also contribute to SDG 7, which promotes affordable and clean energy, given their potential for hydroelectric power.

The biodiversity of mountain regions plays into SDG 15, which aims to protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems. Mountains are hotspots of biodiversity, providing habitats for a range of plant and animal species, many of which are not found elsewhere. Preserving these ecosystems not only helps to maintain biodiversity but also supports the livelihoods of local communities.

SDG 2 aims to end hunger and promote sustainable agriculture. Many mountain communities rely on terraced agriculture to grow crops, and mountains themselves are home to a wide range of plant species that can be utilized for food and medicine.

However, mountain regions are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, such as increased landslides and glacial melting, which can lead to severe consequences for people living in these regions and downstream. As such, the efforts to protect mountains and their ecosystems directly contribute to SDG 13, which calls for urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.

Overall, mountains are critical to several of the SDGs. They require careful management and conservation to ensure their continued ability to provide vital ecosystem services and maintain biodiversity, whilst supporting sustainable development for communities that depend on them.

This chapter ties into Sustainable Development Goal 13: Climate Action and Sustainable Development Goal 15: Life on Land by detailing how the Alpine Convention addresses climate change, soil protection, and natural hazards. The actions and governance model of the Alpine Convention contribute to these SDGs and offer scalable solutions for other mountain regions worldwide.
This Article supports SDGs 3 and 13 by providing Long-term estimation of glacier mass balance using geospatial techniques in Western Himalayas, Ladakh, India.

International Mountain Day 2024

Mountains have long captivated the human imagination with their majestic beauty and vastness. However, beyond their aesthetics, mountains play a crucial role in our planet's well-being, impacting global ecosystems, climate, and communities. Every December 11th, International Mountain Day is observed to recognize the significance of mountains and the need to conserve them.

Why Mountains Matter

The study shows the results of the large-scale spatial survey for the gelada outside its perceived home range, in the northernmost part of Ethiopia.
World Tourism Day

World Tourism Day 2025

World Tourism Day 2025 beckons! As we stand on the brink of another celebration of the myriad wonders of global travel, it's crucial to recognise the significant role of SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals).

Since its inception, World Tourism Day has been an emblematic moment for travel enthusiasts. But this World Tourism Day 2025 isn't just another tick on the calendar. It represents an alignment of the global journey with SDGs.

The Importance of SDGS

Earth Day is celebrated annually on April 22nd every year to demonstrate support for environmental protection. The theme for Earth day 2023 is Invest In Our Planet. Elsevier is proud to highlight these freely accessible book chapters and journal articles in honour of this event.
Climate change and economic growth are responsible for increased water stress.This study provides a baseline understanding of the interplay among water, climate change, and socio-economic development in NSTM.
Under global warming, seasonal snow takes faster melting rate than before, which greatly changes the hydrological cycle. This study offer insights into understanding the effect from seasonal snow on vegetation and promote the sustainable utilization of regional vegetation in the Northern Hemisphere.
Elsevier,

Kamil Maciuk, Chapter 9 - GNSS monitoring natural and anthropogenic phenomena, Editor(s): George p. Petropoulos, Prashant K. Srivastava, GPS and GNSS Technology in Geosciences, Elsevier, 2021, Pages 177-197, ISBN 9780128186176, https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-818617-6.00007-X.

This chapter advances UN SDG goal 12 by enabling the monitoring and characterisation of human impacts on the Earth
Elsevier, ISPRS Journal of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, Volume 162, April 2020
Mountains provide essential ecosystem services to billions of people and are home to a majority of the global biodiversity hotspots. However, mountain ecosystems are particularly sensitive to climate and environmental changes. The protection and sustainable management of mountain ecosystems are thus of great importance and are listed as a Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 15.4) of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for sustainable development.

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