Dialogue on mountains and climate change - Mandated event

COP 30 requested the Chairs of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) and the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) to convene a dialogue on mountains and climate change, inter alia, the need to hold an annual dialogue on mountains and climate change, in conjunction with SB 64. Two co-facilitators appointed by the Chairs will facilitate the dialogue, with the support from the secretariat, and prepare a summary report on the dialogue, including on the outcomes of the discussions on the need to hold an annual dialogue on mountains and climate change. The Chairs will make an oral presentation on the summary report in their reports to COP 31 (see FCCC/CP/2025/12, paragraphs 39-45).

Co-facilitators

Mr. Sonam Tashi of Bhutan and Ms. Saskia Sanders of Switzerland have been appointed by SB Chairs as co-facilitators of the dialogue on mountains and climate change. The appointment has been made in accordance with COP conclusions (see FCCC/CP/2025/12, paragraph 41), which provide that the SB Chairs shall jointly appoint the co-facilitators, in consultation with Parties, ensuring representation from both developing and developed country Parties (see message sent to Parties and observers on the appointment of co-facilitators for the dialogue on mountain and climate change).

Concept note and agenda

The concept note and agenda for the dialogue is available here.

Objectives and expected outcomes of the dialogue

The dialogue will:

Share key learnings from practical experiences and identify support needs related to advancing climate action in mountains, including through National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs), across different regional and national contexts;
Identify and discuss entry points within relevant UNFCCC workstreams to address mountain-related risks, solutions and support needs, including possibilities for action and opportunities to strengthen coherence and implementation within current mandates;
Consider options for continued engagement on mountains and climate change under the UNFCCC, including the potential goals, opportunities and limitations of an annual dialogue.

The dialogue is expected to contribute to:

Increased understanding of lessons learned from practical experiences and identification of support needs related to advancing climate action in mountains across different regional and national contexts, including through national instruments such as NDCs, NAPs and BTRs;
Clearer identification of entry points within relevant UNFCCC workstreams and how these can address mountain-related risks, solutions and support needs, including opportunities to strengthen coherence and implementation within current mandates; and
Improved understanding of options for continued engagement on mountains and climate change under the UNFCCC process, including the potential goals, opportunities and limitations of an annual dialogue.

Agenda

Time (CET)	Overview
Session 1: Opening and strategic framing (Plenary)
10–10:30	Guiding question: Why do climate-related risks and solutions that advance climate action in mountains matter for the implementation of the Convention and the Paris Agreement, and why is this discussion timely within the international climate change space? Opening by  Chair of the SBSTA and  Chair of the SBI Overview and expectation of the dialogue by the co-facilitators: Mr. Sonam Tashi (Bhutan) and Ms. Saskia Sanders (Switzerland) A high-level keynote setting the overall framing of the dialogue: Mr. Pema Gyamtsho, Director General, International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD)
Session 2: Key learnings from practical experiences and support needs related to advancing climate action in mountains, including through NAPs, NDCs and BTRs across different regions and contexts (Plenary)
10:30–11:30	(Inputs from countries and experts, and plenary discussion) Guiding questions: What key learning and support needs have emerged from practical experiences in advancing climate action in mountains across different regions and contexts? How are mountain-related issues being reflected in national instruments, including NDCs, NAPs and BTRs? What key learnings have emerged on challenges, enabling conditions and success factors for advancing climate action in mountains? How can mountain climate action contribute to wider adaptation, resilience and sustainable development outcomes, including beyond mountain regions? What lessons have emerged regarding the identification of support needs and access to finance? Panel reflections: Ambassador Dinara Kemelova, Special Envoy of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic on the Mountain Agenda, Kyrgyzstan H.E. Ms. Noelia Souque Caldato, Ambassador for Cross-Border Cooperation of the Principality of Andorra, Andorra Mr. Maheshwar Dhakal, Joint Secretary, Chief, Climate Change and Management Division, Ministry of Agriculture, Forests and Environment, Nepal Mr. Mokoena France, Director of the Lesotho Meteorological Services, Lesotho Ms. Julia Wolf, Coordinator, Mountain Partnership Secretariat Peru, TBD
Session 3: Entry points within relevant UNFCCC workstreams to address mountain-related risks, solutions and support needs, including possible need for action and opportunities to strengthen coherence and implementation within current mandates (Break-out groups and reporting back)
11:30–13:00	Overview presentation on the entry points within relevant UNFCCC workstreams—Ms. Rojina Manandhar, Team Lead, Adaptation Division, UNFCCC secretariat Guiding questions: Which existing UNFCCC workstreams provide relevant entry points and how can these be used more effectively to address mountain-related risks, solutions and support needs? What practical follow-up could help make better use of the entry points while avoiding duplication? What are the opportunities and possible need for action to strengthen coherence, visibility and implementation within current mandates? Break out group and co-moderators: 1. Adaptation and loss and damage Ms. Kunzang, Global Lead, Global Regional action and global advocacy, International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) Mr. Soumyadeep Banerjee, Regional Migration, Environment and Climate Change Specialist, Migration, Environment and Climate Change and Risk Reduction Division, Regional Office for South-Eastern Europe, Eastern Europe and Central Asia, International Organization for Migration (IOM) 2. Finance, technology transfer and capacity building Mr. Manjeet Dhakal, Head, LDC Support Team, Director of Climate Analytics South Asia office, Climate Analytics Mr. Ansgar Fellendorf, Climate change and Mountains specialist, Biodiversity, People and Landscapes Unit, Ecosystems Division, United Nations Environment Programme 3. Research and Systematic Observation Ms. Carolina Adler, Executive Director, Mountain Research Initiative Ms. Pam Pearson, Director, International Cryosphere Climate Initiative 4. Global Stocktake Ms. Julia Wolf, Coordinator, Mountain Partnership Secretariat, Mr. Kaveh Guilanpour, Vice President, International Strategies at the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions 5. Mitigation and others (e.g. Just Transition Work Programme, Agriculture, Synergies with other Rio Conventions) Mr. Anil Mishra, Chief of Section, Hydrological Systems, Climate Change and Adaptation, Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme, Division of Water Sciences, UNESCO Ms. Johanna Zwahlen, Project management and analysis, Zoï Environment Network
13:00–15:00	Lunch break
15:00–15:45	Reporting back from break-out groups from Session 3
Session 4: Options for continued engagement on mountains and climate change under the UNFCCC, including the potential goals, opportunities and limitations of an annual dialogue (Break-out groups and reporting back)
15:45–17:30	Guiding questions: What forms of continued engagement on mountains and climate change could best support implementation, coherence and knowledge exchange under the UNFCCC process? What goals or functions could an annual dialogue on mountains and climate change serve within the UNFCCC process? What are the opportunities and limitations of an annual dialogue on mountains and climate change, and what practical considerations should be taken into account, including how to avoid duplication? What alternative scenarios or iterations may be considered? Reporting back from break-out groups from Session 4 Breakout groups and co-moderators: Breakout group 1: Ms. Pam Pearson, Director, International Cryosphere Climate Initiative Mr. Nicholas Bishop, Head, Climate Resilience and Human Security, Climate Action Division, International Organization for Migration (IOM) Breakout group 2: Ms. Carolina Adler, Executive Director, Mountain Research Initiative Mr. Ansgar Fellendorf, Climate Change and Mountain Specialist, Biodiversity, People and Landscapes Unit, Ecosystems Division, United Nations Environment Programme Breakout group 3: Mr. Manjeet Dhakal, Head, LDC Support Team, Director of Climate Analytics South Asia office, Climate Analytics Ms. Amy Duchelle, Senior Forestry Officer and Team Leader, Forests and Climate, Forestry Division, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Session 5: Synthesis of key messages and closing (Plenary)
17:30–18:00	Guiding questions: What key messages and recommendations have emerged from the discussion? What considerations have emerged from the dialogue that could inform continued engagement on mountains and climate change under the UNFCCC process? Synthesis of key messages and closing by the co-facilitators: Mr. Sonam Tashi and Ms. Saskia Sanders Reflections: Mr. Vitor Mattos Vaz, Deputy Head for Climate Change, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Brazil, COP 30 Presidency Reflections: COP 31 Presidency, TBD Closing: Chair of the SBSTA and Chair of the SBI