Making Connections for Science and Policy at the International Mountain Conference

MRI News

article written by MRI

29.09.25 | 11:09

From 10-14 September, the global mountain research community gathered in Innsbruck, Austria for the International Mountain Conference (IMC) 2025. Representatives from the Mountain Research Initiative were among the hundreds of participants present – and played a highly active role in the event. From high-resolution climate models to community-led governance, members of the MRI Governing Board, Coordination Office, and Working Groups hosted and contributed to a wide array of sessions, underlining our network’s important function within research and as a voice for our changing mountains.

A Platform for Mountain Voices

“Our presence at this edition of the IMC reflected the breadth and energy of the MRI community,” observed MRI Executive Director Carolina Adler. “The conference was not just about science – it was about connection, dialogue, and making sure mountain voices are heard at every scale.”

Across the week, the MRI held sessions covering diverse topics such as interdisciplinary data integration, transformative change, mountain futures, and the crucial science-policy interface. A workshop jointly hosted by the MRI and the World Climate Research Programme’s Climate and Cryosphere Project (WCRP CliC) assessed the current state of high-resolution climate modelling in complex mountain terrain, identified priorities for improvement, and highlighted observational gaps critical for validation. To ensure the participation of early-career researchers and researchers from developing countries in this workshop, the MRI provided funding support – helping to foster global collaboration and bridging science and capacity-building.

^{Pictured: Poster presentations and discussions as part of the GEO Mountains Focus Session ‘Generating and integrating interdisciplinary data to understand mountain socio-ecological dynamics and support multi-scale policy formulation.’ Image credit: Alex Massot, MRI.}

GEO Mountains: Bridging Data and Practice

Two sessions hosted by GEO Mountains explored both challenges and opportunities in mountain data. Discussions underscored persistent gaps in socio-economic data when compared to physical and climate data, the uneven openness of and access to datasets across regions, and the importance of trust-building for responsible sharing. Promising practices were presented, from municipal adaptation planning in Nepal to Andean science–policy dialogues that led to enhanced ecosystem protection, while calls were made for stronger interdisciplinary collaboration and sustained investment in long-term monitoring.

Working Groups: Innovation and Interdisciplinarity

MRI Working Group leads also hosted two dynamic future-oriented events. Workshop 3.104 explored new methods and concepts to advance mountain research. Key messages included the need to strengthen interdisciplinarity, ensure reciprocity with communities, and build participatory approaches that deliver benefits on the ground. As one participant remarked, “Mountain research must move beyond disciplinary silos if it is to remain relevant to both science and society.”

Meanwhile, Focus Session 3.127 engaged participants to think creatively and collaboratively about mountain social-ecological futures: how can we assess challenges, co-produce solutions, and shape transformation that is both just and sustainable?

Stepping Forward on Elevation-Dependent Climate Change

A side event on elevation-dependent climate change (EDCC) explored how to improve monitoring with innovative methods and anchor stations. Participants highlighted the need to connect EDCC research to tangible impacts, including changes in water resources, ecosystems, and snow lines. Plans for future activities included exploring themes such as extremes and impacts, and maintaining momentum by creating shared knowledge products, including joint reports and publications to clarify the concept of EDCC and provide practical recommendations.

Elevating Mountains in the IPCC

Another highlight was the MRI’s session on elevating mountains in the IPCC’s Seventh Assessment Report (AR7). Building on lessons from AR6, discussions emphasized the need for clearer and more inclusive approaches to defining mountains, the integration of Indigenous and local knowledge, strengthening synergies with other global assessments such as IPBES, and early mobilization to ensure mountain perspectives are fully represented. Opportunities to update datasets and align with initiatives like GlacierMIP were also identified as key next steps.

^{Pictured: Some impressions from the MRI’s session ‘Elevating mountains in the IPCC’s Seventh Assessment Report (AR7).’ Image credit: Glenn Hunt, MRI.}

Looking Ahead

With the MRI’s 25th anniversary on the horizon, the IMC offered an opportunity to reflect on the network and momentum built since our inception. It also underscored that we are well-placed to continue connecting science and policy, and to ensure that mountains — and the people who depend on them — remain at the centre of global sustainability conversations.