This side event will take place during the UNFCCC COP30, providing an opportunity to explore mountains as critical spaces for integrated climate and biodiversity action, and showcase challenges and adaptation solutions from mountain regions around the world.

The event will explore the needs of mountain areas and help shed light on how Parties may advance their climate agendas in these ecosystems that receive less attention in global negotiations, despite their relative vulnerability and exposure. It will provide solutions for countries to take meaningful action that will address the intertwined goals of the climate change and biodiversity agendas.

The aim of the session is to:

• Highlight progress on mountains under UNFCCC and CBD and areas of leverage and convergence leading towards COP30.
• Highlight the interconnections between climate change impacts and biodiversity loss in mountain ecosystems, using region-specific data and evidence to illustrate the urgency and scale of these converging crises.
• Position mountain ecosystems as critical spaces for integrated climate and biodiversity action, showcasing regional governance mechanisms that address both challenges coherently within the frameworks of the CBD and UNFCCC.
• Showcase speakers implementing biodiversity and climate change efforts and solutions in their countries’ mountains as good practice examples and how they can ensure effective adaptation practices

The side event is co-organized by Zoï Environment Network, CONDESAN, ICIMOD, and the governments of Bhutan and Nepal as part of the Adaptation at Altitude programme.

Date/Time: 14/11/2025, 18:30 – 20:00 (UTC -03:00)
Location: Side Event Room 7, Blue Zone, UNFCCC COP30