Invitation: Mountain Day at COP17, Durban on 4 December 2011

Following to the sharing of ICIMOD@COP17 overview email, we like to share with you again information about the most special event in this series – the Mountain Day, scheduled on 4 December 2011. The event will attract several important personalities, including the ones from mountainous countries, mountain institutions, donor communities, UN agencies, and the IPCC itself. Attached are event background, tentative agenda and photo exhibition brochures.

Organised by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), and The World Bank (WB) together with the Center for International Climate and Environmental Research (CICERO), EVK2CNR,  the Mountain Partnership Secretariat (MPS)/ Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), The Alpine Convention, The Carpathian Convention, The Mountain Institute (TMI),  the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Vienna and UNEP GRID Arendal, the Mountain Day will:

• assemble a high-level panel of global personalities, ministers, and scientists to advocate the value and critical role of mountains and share scientific evidence and examples of challenges and opportunities. The day-long programme will also include plenary presentations and discussions, working groups, and panel discussions. The organisers hope that Mountain Day will conclude with the adoption of the Durban Declaration on Mountains and Climate Change; and
• call to the COP17 delegates and global development partners for more concerted and long-term actions at the national, regional, and global levels to save vital mountain ecosystems. It is hoped that the knowledge shared and the evidence presented will provide a powerful and convincing message to ensure that UNFCCC deliberations include provisions for protecting mountain systems’ integrity for the survival of current and future generations. The Mountain Day will also feature a Photo Exhibition: ‘Himalaya- Changing Landscapes’ and an Information on the Knowledge Market Place for selected partners to exhibit their works.

Registration is open until 29 November (5:00 PM, Durban time).

Highlights of the Mountain Day

• Keynote Speech by Dr Rajendra K Pachauri, Chair, IPCC and Director General, TERI, India
• Mountain Ministers’ Panel – Bhutan, Chile, Italy, Nepal, Slovenia, and Tajikistan
• Working Sessions
• Information Knowledge Market Place
• Photo Exibition: ‘Himalaya – Changing Landscapes’
• Book launches

Please note local transport is provided on request for the participants o the Mountain Day in Durban.

Venue: The Breakers Resort, 88 Lagoon Drive, Umhlanga Rocks, KwaZulu Natal, 4321, Durban, Time: 9:00- 18:00

Further information and online registration: http://www.icimod.org/mountainday

Updates on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mountaindayCOP

Youth Climate Report Video on Mountain Day: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XR1ojGmFExU

Contacts: Dr. Madhav Karki (mkarki@icimod.org), Ms. Naina Shakya (nshakya@icimod.org) and Mr. Tek Jung Mahat (tmahat@icimod.org)