The Andean Glacier and Water Atlas

Promote mechanisms for adaptation learning

Long-term monitoring and evaluation of adaptation projects and initiatives should be undertaken in order to measure adaptation actions according to a pre-defined set of criteria, which could include effectiveness, efficiency, equity, inherent flexibility, acceptability and robustness. Platforms and mechanisms should be developed which allow for experiences and lessons to be shared between and within countries and across a wide diversity of stakeholders (including municipalities, rural communities, civil society, private sector, national governments etc.). The Climate Risk Informed Decision Analysis (CRIDA) provides such a framework to develop adaptation pathways under climate change uncertainty (UNESCO and ICIWaRM, 2018). The most effective mechanism for responding to changes in water availability is improving adaptive capacity, including training of farmers and other stakeholders and developing and implementing or accessing technology and building supporting infrastructure. These actions require viable financing options. In order to offset the decreasing amount of water, which was previously stored in snow and ice, investment is needed in water storage and distribution systems as well as in natural water retention methods. For example, multiple use water storage systems should be encouraged, which can supply multiple water needs such as drinking water and irrigation. Innovative financing mechanisms, such as municipal water funds, should also be explored. Furthermore, focussing on increasing and/or diversifying the range of livelihood options, that are available to local communities can also help spread risk and allow for different adaptation strategies to be adopted. Accessing new technologies, including decentralised small-scale hydropower systems, should also be explored where relevant. Finance adaptation measures

strategies. The IPCC has started to focus on the climate risks in mountains with a special report soon to be published. This should lead to mountains being included in the next IPCC global assessment report.

Make mountains a focus of targeted adaptation policy

Increase policy coordination and integration within and between countries

A growing number of organisations in Latin America are working on climate change adaptation specific to mountain areas (ELLA, 2017). However national adaptation policies rarely recognise the unique problems and challenges encountered in high mountains (Schoolmeester et al., 2016). The World Bank Mountain Vulnerability Framework (Brodnig and Prasad, 2010) recognises mountain specificities, such as accessibility, fragility and marginality that can be assessed to develop tailored adaptation

Countries could benefit from harmonising policies and aligning national laws to protect mountain environments, building further on the lessons learnt in some of the Andean countries that have adopted novel approaches. The UNFCCC recognises the potential gains from regional synergies that promote joint efforts in the development and implementation of adaptation actions. These include knowledge sharing, avoiding duplication, economies of scale and cost sharing and conflict minimisation.

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