Sustainable mountain development
A/RES/74/227
risk assessment, mapping and management into rural development planning and
management of, inter alia, mountains, including through the identification of areas
that are safe for human settlement, and at the same time preserving ecosystem
functions that help to reduce risks,
Recalling the outcome document of the United Nations Conference on
Sustainable Development, entitled “The future we want”, 8 Agenda 21, 9 the Plan of
Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development (Johannesburg
Plan of Implementation) 10 and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets of the Strategic Plan for
Biodiversity 2011–2020,
Recognizing that the benefits derived from mountain regions are essential for
sustainable development and that mountain ecosystems play a crucial role in
providing water and other essential resources and services to a large portion of the
world’s population,
Recognizing also that mountain ecosystems are highly vulnerable to the
increasing adverse impacts of climate change, extreme weather events, deforestation,
forest fires and forest degradation, land-use change, land degradation and natural
disasters, from which they recover slowly, and that mountain glaciers around the
world are retreating and getting thinner, with increasing impacts on the environment,
sustainable livelihoods and human well-being,
Acknowledging that, despite the progress that has been made in promoting the
sustainable development of mountain regions and the conservation of mountain
ecosystems, including their biodiversity, the prevalence of poverty, food insecurity,
social exclusion, environmental degradation and exposure to the risk of disasters is
still increasing, particularly in developing countries, and access to safe and affordable
drinking water and basic sanitation as well as to sustainable modern energy services
continues to be limited,
Reaffirming that gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls
will make a crucial contribution to progress across all the Sustainable Development
Goals and targets, and that the achievement of full human potential and sustainable
development is not possible if one half of humanity continues to be denied full human
rights and opportunities,
Noting with deep concern that about 340 million people in rural mountain areas
in developing countries – 55 per cent of the total rural mountain population – were
considered vulnerable to food insecurity in 2017, a steep increase compared with
2012, and in this regard acknowledging the need to prioritize the special and urgent
attention needed by mountain areas, including by focusing on the specific challenges
they face and the opportunities they provide,
Encouraging Member States to advance innovative pathways to achieve
sustainable consumption and production in line with United Nations Environment
Assembly resolution 4/1 of 15 March 2019, 11
Noting the collaborative efforts of the International Partnership for Sustainable
Development in Mountain Regions (Mountain Partnership), launched during the
World Summit on Sustainable Development as a multi-stakeholder approach
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19-22499
Resolution 66/288, annex.
Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro,
3–14 June 1992, vol. I, Resolutions Adopted by the Conference (United Nations publication,
Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigendum), resolution 1, annex II.
Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa,
26 August–4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and
corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex.
UNEP/EA.4/Res.1.
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