Elevating knowledge,
EMPOWERING
ACTION

Shaping the future of mountain environments and societies together

The Moving Mountains Summit leverages the combined power of local and Indigenous knowledge, western science, policy and advocacy to address mountain sustainability and justice in the face of rapid climate change.

A public drive contains materials generated by and for Summit participants of the Moving Mountains Summit. You can upload and view images, explore resources, and read more about the Alliance background.  

Take action with mountain stakeholders from around the world

Join academics, practitioners, educators, students, decision-makers, community knowledge holders and Indigenous rights-holders from 18 networks across six continents and 50+ countries. Examine the most critical challenges and opportunities mountain communities face. Help build pathways to sustainability across mountain systems worldwide.

Together, we can move mountains.

Summit snapshots
Mountain momentum is building

The United Nations designated 2022 as the International Year of Sustainable Mountain Development, and we’ll explore how to achieve sustainable development that is also inclusive and just at the Moving Mountains Summit.

The Summit will immediately precede the UN Mountain Partnership meeting in Aspen, CO and will deliver a vision and action plan for mountains co-produced at the Summit, representing the braiding of local and Indigenous knowledges, perspectives and values with western science.

We envision transforming mountain science and sustainable development to be more collaborative, just, impactful, and based on multiple values and knowledge systems.

The Moving Mountains Summit will launch an initiative aimed at identifying and implementing pathways to sustainability across mountain systems worldwide. In doing so, we will address four critical knowledge gaps for mountain sustainability:

  1. Contributions of local and Indigenous knowledge to adaptation and transformation.
  2. Nature-based solutions for climate change in mountain systems.
  3. Approaches to strengthen local governance, and build equitable partnerships for sustainable livelihoods and policy.
  4. Synthesis across diverse mountain contexts of transformative pathways. Knowledge gaps may be addressed across themes of food security and autonomy, sustainable water and energy, and mountain services and products.

There is a unique convergence of global threats and opportunities affecting mountains: the urgent need for climate solutions now, the continuing effects of COVID-19, the designation of 2022 as the United Nations International Year for Sustainable Mountain Development and our recent National Science Foundation award that offers an opportunity to co-produce a mountain sustainability program with our partners worldwide.

Now is an ideal time to convene multiple sectors of society across mountains worldwide to set an agenda and an actionable roadmap for the future. This vision and roadmap will be guided by a commitment to decolonization and efforts rooted in a collaborative science-with-society approach.

The Moving Mountains Summit will launch activities that showcase, learn, build, engage and evaluate:

  • Showcase: We will share existing innovations and success stories, building off local and Indigenous expertise and other approaches. Our Mountain Showcase will highlight research, practice, creative works and products as the basis to chart actions.
  • Learn: We will provide opportunities for in-depth learning and reflection about topics of interest to participants. Topics may include nature-based solutions, carbon management, social innovation and change, Indigenous Evaluation Frameworks, Collective Impact, and diverse knowledge and value systems.
  • Build: We will create a shared plan with defined strategies, metrics, and partnerships for the future. The outputs will include a shared vision, goals, and a co-produced initial action plan. We will also form thematic communities of interest and regional learning-action collaboratories.
  • Engage: The Summit will include diverse pathways for community-building and engagement, including dynamic discussions and hands-on working groups, time outdoors and social time with an evening of mountain-inspired music and celebration.
  • Evaluate: We will create daily opportunities for individual and group reflections on the Summit process, goals, action plan and ways forward.
Moving Mountains Summit Sponsors
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Town of Basalt
Network Partners
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