Impact of Glacier Retreat in the Andes: International Multidisciplinary Network for Adaptation Strategies (Meeting)

 

The UNESCO IHP project “The Impact of Glacier Retreat in the Andes: International Multidisciplinary Network for Adaptation Strategies” foresees in a set of deliverables related to diagnostics of current conditions of glaciers in Andean countries, the identification of their vulnerability to climate change, as well as current and future opportunities for the implementation of policies on climate change adaptation strategies. To identify these strategies, a set of regional activities were organized since 2012, strengthening the science-policy dialogue in the Andean Region on these topics. Following up on these activities, a two day meeting will be held in Santiago de Chile, to present ongoing activities of the Glacier Melt project, as well as to discuss follow-up activities and to identify possible linkages with other regional activities on climate change adaptation strategies. 

 

 

During project execution a set of deliverables were produced that will be presented and discussed during the meeting. In particular, four background papers were developed to identify the current gaps and opportunities related to climate change and adaptation potential. The first policy brief dealt with ‘Mapping of vulnerability of water resources to global changes in the Andean Region’ and focused on the physical environment. The second brief was oriented towards ‘Policy needs for adaptation strategies in water resources management’, and addressed current policies in different countries identifying possible gaps in addressing changing conditions. The third paper dealt with ‘Education and curriculum needs’ on water resources, and snow and glacier aspects, showing current gaps. The last paper documented ‘Climate Change Adaptation local practices in the Andean Region’ and showed the way forward.

 

Complementary to this effort, a regional assessment of the vulnerability of Andean natural resources (water and environmental resources) to glacier melt was finalized. This has led to the identification of

areas with higher vulnerability to glacier retreat, and focal areas for follow-up activities targeting the development of adaptation strategies in those regions. A website was created to present these outcomes (http://unesco.envisim.com/) and a final document is being developed for public diffusion, in collaboration with GRID-ARENDAL. A scientific paper has also been submitted for peer review

titled “Tracing the white water: Tropical glacier melt contribution to human water use” (Buytaert et al., 2015).