Adaptation to climate change in glaciated mountain regions

Abstract

Understanding of the human dimensions of climate change (HDCC) in glaciated mountain regions is limited by a deficit in systematically collated information on where, to what stressors, by whom, at what scale, and with what effect adaptation is occurring. This paper presents a systematic literature review of the recent English language peer-reviewed scholarship on adaptation in glaciated mountain regions. 4050 potentially relevant articles were examined, with 36 included for full review. Results indicate that scholarly investigation into adaptation in glaciated mountains is presently limited to only 40 % of countries with alpine glaciation. Seventy-four discrete adaptation initiatives were identified, with most occurring in Peru (28 %), Nepal (22 %) and India (17 %). Many documented adaptations were initiated in response to intersecting stressors related to cryospheric change and socioeconomic development; were autonomous and initiated in reaction to experienced climatic stimuli; and were carried out at the individual, family, or community scale. The study contributes to an emerging literature tracking on-the-ground adaptation processes and outcomes, and identifies a need to raise the profile of human adaptation in glaciated mountain regions within the HDCC scholarship. A research agenda for addressing key knowledge gaps and questions is developed, providing a framework for future investigation.

Robust Adaptation Research in High Mountains: Integrating the Scientific, Social, and Ecological Dimensions of Glacio-Hydrological Change

“…According to McDowell et al's [6] global assessment of adaptation in glaciated mountain regions, peer-reviewed publications documenting human adaptations are relatively rare in the mountain-focused literature (n = 36). However, this number does not reflect studies published in non-peer-reviewed reports, peer-reviewed studies that have been published since the McDowell et al 2014 review, or studies published in non-English language journals.…”

“…Here, contributions such as UNEP's Mountain Adaptation Outlook series and High Mountains Adaptation Partnership (HiMAP) publications, recent studies such as that by Mills-Novoa et al [15], and non-English language works such as Llosa, et al [43], are increasing our understanding of adaptation in mountain regions. The existing literature suggests that changes to hydrological systems are the most common climate-related issue driving adaptations, that most adaptations are reactionary rather than anticipatory, that most adaptations are carried out at the community level, and that adaptations are frequently embedded within responses to concurrent non-climatic stressors [6]. Although autonomous adaptations (i.e., devised without external support) have been most widely documented to date (ibid.…”

“…), evidence of planned adaptations (i.e., deliberate policy development) is becoming more common, particularly in program reports and policy documents, e.g., [44]. Adaptation research is clustered in sub-ranges within a select number of mountainous countries (e.g., Cordillera Blanca, Peru), is methodologically heterogeneous, and is based primarily on individual case studies [6]. Little is known about the outcomes of adaptation initiatives (ibid.).…”

“…Climate-related changes in mountain glaciers are already affecting water availability in many regions [3], with Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) AR5 projections indicating further reductions in global glacier volumes of up to 85% by 2100 [4]. A small but growing body of research demonstrates how highland residents experience and respond to hydrological changes, and outlines how factors such as geographical isolation, dependence on resource-based livelihoods, and political underrepresentation increase susceptibility to the harmful effects of climate change [5,6]. Likewise, recent ecological research has shown how the structure and function of mountain ecosystems is being altered by ice loss as well as how such changes threaten biodiversity and mountain-sourced ecosystem services [7][8][9].…”

“…We are concerned primarily with adaptations in human systems and the role of integrative research in understanding and informing responses to climate change. This paper builds upon calls for more integrative climate change adaptation research in mountain environments, e.g., [6,[10][11][12][13][14][15][16], and delineates a set of three guiding principles for robust adaptation research in glaciated mountain regions.…”