Under the framework of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) and assessment cycle, there are several developments and opportunities for the MRI and its mountain research community to participate and make important contributions on the state of knowledge regarding climate change in mountain regions. Here is a recap:



Special Report on Oceans and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate (SROCC)

  • From 2-6 October 2017, Coordinating Lead Authors (CLAs) and Lead Authors (LAs) selected for the SROCC will be meeting in Fiji for the first author’s meeting to define the process and content for the approved outline of the report, including Chapter 2 on “High Mountains” in which MRI's Executive Director, Carolina Adler, will participate as one of eleven LAs for this chapter. The IPCC has issued a press release describing the purpose and focus of this week-long meeting (see link). The SROCC process and final report is expected to be finalised by September 2019.
  • The selection process of manuscripts for the Special Issue (SI) on "Impacts of climate change on the mountain cryosphere and associated responses", to be published in the journal Regional Environment Change, is now concluded and all selected authors have been notified. Full papers are expected by the end of 2017, with the SI expected by the end of 2018. The special issue, with guest co-editors Carolina Adler (MRI), Christian Huggel (University of Zurich), Anne Nolin (Oregon State University) and Ben Orlove (Columbia University), aims to highlight contributions from the mountain research community in providing the IPCC SROCC assessment process with state-of-the-art knowledge and evidence for impacts and adaptation in mountain regions.

Sixth Assessment Report (AR6)


  • At the IPCC’s most recent meeting earlier in September, its 46th session held in Montreal Canada, confirmation and approval for the AR6 outline and chapters was announced, including the very pleasing news for a dedicated cross-chapter paper on “mountains” (15 pages). For full coverage of the deliberations and discussion at this meeting that are relevant for this outcome, can be accessed via the IISD’s Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB, link). The approved outlines of the AR6 can be accessed via the IPCC’s website (link).
  • The IPCC has since issued a call for authors for the AR6, and in the context of dedicated content on mountains in AR6, we at MRI encourage the mountain research community to get involved. The deadline for nominations is approaching, with nominations open till 27 October 2017. If interested, you must contact your national focal point in your country to submit your nomination before this date. For a full list of contacts for national focal points, please see the IPCC’s website (link).
  • Together with other partners, MRI is planning for concerted efforts and activities to be rolled out in 2018 to ensure the MRI mountain research community can provide synthesis and review inputs relevant for the contents of the AR6 and its assessment process. More details and announcements will be forthcoming towards the end of this year, so stay connected and alert for announcements.

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