• Energy Research
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Mountainous regions are globally important, in part because they support large populations and are biodiverse. They are also characterized by enhanced vulnerability to anthropogenic pressures and sensitivity to climate change. This importance necessitates the development of a global reference network of long-term environmental and socioeconomic monitoring—mountain observatories. At present, monitoring is limited and unevenly distributed across mountain regions globally. Existing thematic networks do not fully support the generation of multidisciplinary knowledge required to inform decisions, enact drivers of sustainable development, and safeguard against losses. In this paper, the Mountain Observatories Working Group, established by the Mountain Research Initiative (MRI) Science Leadership Council, identifies geographical and thematic gaps as well as recent advances in monitoring of relevant biophysical and socioeconomic variables in the mountains. We propose principles and ways of connecting existing initiatives, supporting emerging areas, and developing new mountain observatory networks regionally and, eventually, globally. Particularly in the data-poor regions, we aspire to build a community of researchers and practitioners in collaboration with the Global Network on Observations and Information in Mountain Environments, Group on Earth Observations (GEO) Mountains, a GEO Work Programme Initiative.

In theory, building resilience is touted as one way to deal with climate change impacts; however, in practice, there is a need to examine how contexts influence the capacity of building resilience. A participatory process was carried out through workshops in regions affected by drought in Chile in 2014. The aim was to explore how resilience theory can be better applied and articulated into practice vis-á-vis participatory approaches that enrich the research process through the incorporation of co-produced. The results show that there are more differences in responses by type of actor than between regions, where issues of national interest, such as ‘education-information’ and ‘preparedness’, are highlighted over others. However, historically relevant local topics emerged as differentiators: decentralisation, and political will. This reinforces why special attention must be given to the different understandings in knowledge co-production processes. This study provides evidence and lessons on the importance of incorporating processes of the co-production of knowledge as a means to better articulate and transfer abstract concepts, such as resilience theory, into practice. Sustainability Science, 12 (1) ISSN:1862-4065 ISSN:1862-4057

<p>Many mountainous environments and ecosystems around the world are responding rapidly to ongoing climate change. Long-term climatological time-series from such regions are crucial for developing improving understanding of the underlying mechanisms responsible for such changes, and generating more reliable future impact projections for environmental managers and other decision makers. Whilst it is already established that high elevation regions tend to be comparatively under-sampled, detailed spatial and other patterns in the coverage of mountain climatological data have not yet been comprehensively assessed on a global basis. To begin to address this deficiency, we analyse the coverage of records associated with the mountainous subset of the Global Historical Climatological Network-Daily (GHCNd) inventory with respect to space, time, and elevation. Three key climate-related variables – air temperature, precipitation, and snow depth – are considered across 292 named mountain ranges. To characterise data coverage relative to topographic, hydrological, and socio-economic factors, several additional datasets were introduced. Spatial mountain data coverage is highly uneven, and there are several mountain ranges whose elevational range is severely under-sampled by GHCNd stations. Crucially, the three "Water Tower Units" previously identified as having the greatest hydrological importance to society appear to have extremely low station densities. Mountain station density is weakly related to the human population or economic output of the corresponding downstream catchments. A script we developed enables detailed assessments of record temporal coverage and measurement quality information. This contribution should help international authorities and more regional stakeholders to identify areas, variables, and other aspects that should be prioritised for investment in infrastructure and capacity. Finally, the transparent and reproducible approach taken throughout will enable the work to be rapidly repeated for subsequent versions of GHCNd, and may furthermore enable similar analyses to be efficiently conducted on other spatial reporting boundaries and/or environmental monitoring station networks. </p>

At the GEO-GNOME Status and Scoping Workshop held in Bern in May 20181 , key objectives and tasks listed on its work plan 2017-2019 were revised (see also Adler et al, 2018). The importance of climate as one key driver of environmental change in mountains, with relevant consequences for social-ecological systems, was reiterated. Given already existing initiatives on essential climate variables from observations and modelling, an opportunity was identified to focus attention on mountain-specific needs of key variables allowing from understanding and tracking changes in mountains and their consequences. A transect network of in-situ climate data over elevation gradients (Unified High Elevation Observing Platform, UHOP3 ), together with consistent time series of EO (satellite) data, was suggested as a means to address key observational data gaps and to improve our understanding of processes of elevation-dependent warming (EDW) and elevation-dependent climate change (EDCC) in mountains, and support a systematic strategy for identifying and collecting new observation data. Essential Climate Variables (ECVs) relevant for mountains were identified as a first starting point. They include “pure climate” variables like temperature, precipitation, snow, radiation, wind, etc., as well as other important variables/drivers such as land-cover. With the support from the European Space Agency (ESA), Future Earth (FE), and the Mountain Research Initiative (MRI), the 2019 GEO-GNOME workshop aimed at identifying and selecting ECVs required in high elevation contexts for the monitoring and better understanding of ‘mountain climate change’, including considerations for integration between in-situ measurements, EO satellite data and modelling. The WMO/GCOS existing catalogue of ECVs was used as initial basis for compiling our list of essential mountain variables. The possibility to use ESA’s existing datasets on ECVs within its Climate Change Initiative (CCI) program was also considered. The key output and outcome of this workshop is a list of ECVs required to observe the processes of elevation-dependent climate change in mountains. In addition, a data collection protocol with identified existing data-sources and criteria for required data quality (particularly the spatial and temporal resolution required) for selected key processes was produced. There are huge observational and information gaps in mountain environments and agreeing on joint protocols and data resolution needed for each relevant process would allow filling these gaps. Collecting data on other environmental processes in addition and in relation to strictly climate-related processes will strengthen GEO-GNOME’s ability to identify relevant data and information that meet the needs of management, policy and scientific research. Making this data discoverable and accessible via suitable data portals, such as the GEO-GNOME Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEO-GNOME GEOSS, under development), will further facilitate data use and research collaborations.

Les montagnes abritent une part considérable de la population humaine. Environ un milliard de personnes vivent dans des zones montagneuses, qui abritent une riche diversité naturelle et socioculturelle. Aujourd'hui, de nombreuses personnes vivant dans des zones montagneuses du monde entier sont confrontées à des changements fondamentaux de leurs conditions de vie culturelles et économiques. Dans le même temps, les communautés de montagne ont défié les environnements difficiles dans le passé en s'adaptant aux conditions naturelles changeantes et en faisant preuve de niveaux remarquables de résilience. Dans cet article de synthèse, nous fournissons un aperçu complet de la littérature scientifique de langue anglaise sur les sujets liés à la résilience dans les zones de montagne sur la base d'une revue systématique de la base de données documentaire Scopus®. Nous proposons un point de départ structuré pour les interactions science-pratique et les activités concrètes basées sur l'action pour soutenir les moyens de subsistance et renforcer la résilience dans les zones de montagne. Nous suggérons que les lacunes existantes en matière de connaissances puissent être comblées en s'appuyant sur les connaissances locales et en co-créant des solutions avec les communautés. De cette façon, nous pouvons renforcer les capacités d'innovation et amortir activement l'impact des crises tout en soutenant la transformation délibérée vers la durabilité et la régénération pour améliorer davantage la résilience. Las montañas son el hogar de una parte considerable de la población humana. Alrededor de mil millones de personas viven en zonas montañosas, que albergan una rica diversidad natural y sociocultural. Hoy en día, muchas personas que viven en zonas montañosas de todo el mundo se enfrentan a cambios fundamentales en sus condiciones de vida culturales y económicas. Al mismo tiempo, las comunidades de montaña han desafiado los entornos hostiles en el pasado al adaptarse a las condiciones naturales cambiantes y mostrar niveles notables de resiliencia. En este documento de revisión, proporcionamos una descripción general completa de la literatura científica en inglés sobre temas relacionados con la resiliencia en áreas montañosas basada en una revisión sistemática de la base de datos de literatura Scopus®. Proponemos un punto de partida estructurado para las interacciones entre la ciencia y la práctica y actividades concretas basadas en la acción para apoyar los medios de vida y fortalecer la resiliencia en las zonas montañosas. Sugerimos que las brechas de conocimiento existentes se pueden abordar confiando en el conocimiento local y cocreando soluciones con las comunidades. De esta manera, podemos crear capacidad innovadora y amortiguar activamente el impacto de las crisis, al tiempo que apoyamos la transformación deliberada hacia la sostenibilidad y la regeneración para mejorar aún más la resiliencia. Mountains are home to a considerable share of the human population. Around a billion people live in mountainous areas, which harbor rich natural and sociocultural diversity. Today, many people living in mountainous areas worldwide face fundamental changes to their cultural and economic living conditions. At the same time, mountain communities have defied harsh environments in the past by adapting to changing natural conditions and showing remarkable levels of resilience. In this review paper, we provide a comprehensive overview of English-language scientific literature on resilience-related topics in mountain areas based on a systematic review of the Scopus® literature database. We propose a structured starting point for science–practice interactions and concrete action-based activities to support livelihoods and strengthen resilience in mountain areas. We suggest that existing knowledge gaps can be addressed by relying on local knowledge and cocreating solutions with communities. In this way, we can build innovative capacity and actively buffer against the impact of crises while supporting deliberate transformation toward sustainability and regeneration to further enhance resilience. الجبال هي موطن لنسبة كبيرة من السكان. يعيش حوالي مليار شخص في المناطق الجبلية، التي تضم تنوعًا طبيعيًا واجتماعيًا ثقافيًا غنيًا. اليوم، يواجه العديد من الأشخاص الذين يعيشون في المناطق الجبلية في جميع أنحاء العالم تغييرات جوهرية في ظروفهم المعيشية الثقافية والاقتصادية. وفي الوقت نفسه، تحدت المجتمعات الجبلية البيئات القاسية في الماضي من خلال التكيف مع الظروف الطبيعية المتغيرة وإظهار مستويات ملحوظة من المرونة. في ورقة المراجعة هذه، نقدم نظرة عامة شاملة على الأدبيات العلمية باللغة الإنجليزية حول الموضوعات المتعلقة بالمرونة في المناطق الجبلية بناءً على مراجعة منهجية لقاعدة بيانات أدبيات Scopus®. نقترح نقطة انطلاق منظمة للتفاعلات بين العلوم والممارسات والأنشطة العملية الملموسة لدعم سبل العيش وتعزيز القدرة على الصمود في المناطق الجبلية. نقترح أنه يمكن معالجة الفجوات المعرفية الحالية من خلال الاعتماد على المعرفة المحلية وإيجاد حلول مشتركة مع المجتمعات. وبهذه الطريقة، يمكننا بناء قدرات مبتكرة والوقاية بنشاط من تأثير الأزمات مع دعم التحول المتعمد نحو الاستدامة والتجديد لزيادة تعزيز المرونة.

European mountain regions have already been impacted by climate change, and this is projected to increase in the future. These mountain regions experience rapid changes, which influence social-ecological systems in the lower-mountain and floodplain regions of Europe. There is scattered evidence across different strands of academic literature on the ways in which the impacts of changing climate in mountain regions are addressed and adaptive capacity is enhanced. Using a systematic mapping review, we mapped English-language scientific journal articles that analyzed the climate change adaptation options that are planned or implemented in European mountain regions. Our understanding of how academic literature has investigated climate change adaptation is critical to identifying key knowledge gaps and research foci. Following the Reporting Standards for Systematic Evidence Syntheses in environmental research protocol, 72 scientific articles published between January 2011 and August 2019 were identified from a total of 702 scientific articles. Our findings show that existing academic literature has a strong focus on the western and southern European mountains: the European Alps (n = 24), Pyrenees (n = 11), and Sierra Nevada (n = 4). Key climate impacts reported for the biophysical systems include reduction in forest carbon, soil erosion, changes in vegetation patterns, and changes in plant population and tree heights; in human systems, these include water availability, agricultural production, changes in viticulture, and impacts on tourism. Key adaptation options reported in this article are wetland conservation options, changing cropping and cultivation cycles, tree species management strategies, and snow-making technology. We found very few articles analyzing governance responses to planning and implementing adaptation; these had a strong bias toward techno-managerial responses. We conclude that, while climate impacts are substantial in European mountain regions, there are knowledge gaps in academic literature that need to be addressed.

As governments propose policies for increasing use of renewable energy, a key risk to policy implementation concerns potential conflicts amongst stakeholders, and public opposition to such policies. Adequately accounting for stakeholders’ values and interests is key to understanding whether stakeholders’ perspectives pose a risk to energy policy implementation. We present results from a case study on the implementation of a renewable energy project in Switzerland, where we applied Q methodology. Three perspectives were identified, namely: 1) promotion for local development and production of energy (‘Local pro-producers’); 2) promotion for a national level ‘greener’ environmental agenda (‘National greens’); and 3) regional government empowerment for implementing energy policies (‘Cantonal leverage’). These three perspectives reflect different sets of values and priorities for local, cantonal and national interests, revealing disagreements with the energy policy at different levels of government. The key basis for disagreement rests on which objectives of the policy to prioritize, i.e. energy efficiency, sustainable development, electricity reduction or production. Despite this disagreement, stakeholders largely agree on the importance of an inclusive and democratic decision process. These findings support calls for the explicit and systematic consideration for deep-seated values and perspectives amongst stakeholders on an evidentiary basis. Energy Policy, 108 ISSN:0301-4215