Adapting to climate change in the mountains: Legislative solutions from around the world

Adapting to climate change in the mountains Legislative solutions from around the world Mountain areas are home to 1.2 billion people, host 30% of the world’s key biodiversity areas and provide freshwater for half of the global population. They are also under threat from climate change, which causes melting glaciers, increased natural hazards and changing precipitation patterns that affect food supply and overall health and safety. As these challenges intensify, working to protect the natural environment and the people living there will become all the more vital. Parliamentarians can take action through different functions, including by introducing legislation that responds to the pressing needs of mountain areas in the wake of climate change. Legal instruments provide more leverage in responding to climate change compared to technical fixes, highlighting the importance of parliamentary action. This brief explores different laws from around the world, which may serve as inspiration for new, effective climate-responsive policies.