What is International Mountain Day? UN day advocates for environmental protection of mountains

With the threat of global warming ever present, doing all we can to help tackle environmental issues and highlight those making great changes is paramount.
International Mountain Day celebrates the importance of safeguarding its ecosystem which is essential to the planet
PA Media
Jessica Knibbs29 November 2022

International Mountain Day (IMD) takes place on December 11 and this year’s theme will be Women Move mountains.

The day is celebrated to help bring awareness of the importance of mountains, to life and the planet.

It also aims to highlight opportunities for improved mountain development and to build alliances to implement positive changes to both mountain people and environments around the world.

The nod to women is due to their pivotal role in mountains’ economic, social, and environmental development.

Women are often seen as the primary managers when it comes to mountain resources, safeguarding the rich biodiversity.

They are also the keepers of traditional knowledge and medicine and custodians of local culture.

With around 600 glaciers disappearing over the past decades and water supplies greatly affected, the emphasis needs to be placed on mountain ecosystems and those who maintain these.

Why is International Mountains Day important?

Mountains have been described as the world’s “water towers” as they provide 60 to 80 per cent of all freshwater resources for the planet.

“At least half of the world’s population depends on mountain ecosystem services to survive – not only water but also food and clean energy,” said Grammenos Mastrojeni, chair of the Mountain Partnership.

He added: “Major cities, such as Rio de Janeiro, New York, Nairobi, and Tokyo, rely almost exclusively on freshwater from mountains.

“However, all available records indicate that glaciers in mountain ranges around the world are retreating and disappearing due to climate change.”

What is the theme of this year’s International Mountain Day?

The theme of this year’s International Mountain Day is “women move mountains.”

Many women and girls living in mountain areas possess a wealth of knowledge but many of their efforts are being halted.

This is due to women being seen as invisible due to lack of decision-making power and having an unequal access to resources.

This is why International Mountain Day will be celebrating the efforts of these women as they have the potential to be major agents of change.

Therefore, International Mountain Day 2022 is an opportunity to promote gender equality further, highlighting the importance of improving social justice, resilience, and livelihoods.

To help do your part for this International Day 2022, join the conversation and share with your friends using the hashtag #MountainsMatter.

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