On 16 December 2021, the United Nations General Assembly adopted by consensus a resolution proclaiming 2022 the International Year of Sustainable Mountain Development, 20 years after the last International Year of Mountains in 2002.
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, the resolution on the International Year of Sustainable Mountain Development in 2022, supported by 94 countries, invites all UN Member States, international and regional organisations, and any other relevant stakeholders to act to raise awareness on the importance of sustainable mountain development this year.
The resolution was introduced by Kyrgyzstan, and its representative stressed that mountains are habitats for unique species of flora and fauna, constitute unique types of ecosystems and the problems they face due to climate change are specific. Therefore, adaptation and mitigation of climate change, as well as sustainable development in these territories, require the implementation of a special set of measures addressing their needs.