How are globalisation and climate change affecting the lives of those living in the mountainous regions of the world? What effect are they having on migration, urbanisation and food security? These and related questions will be discussed at the World Mountain Conference on 11 and 12 October in the Lucerne Culture and Congress Centre (CCL). There will be presentations and discussions on regional and global experiences in mountain development since the Rio Environment Conference of 1992. The results of the conference will feed into a number of initiatives and events, such as the UN Sustainability Conference Rio+20 which will take place next year.

The conference is organised by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the Federal Office for Spatial Development (ARE). About 150 experts in fields such as the use of natural resources, water, climate change, natural disasters and de-centralisation will take part. Renowned experts will take part in the panel discussion on the evening of 11 October on ways in which the sustainable development of mountains can be promoted through partnerships and the cooperation of various actors. The participants will include Dr. Ashok Khosla (India), president of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, Dr. Brice Lalonde (USA/France), coordinator of the Rio Conference 2012, Dr Andreas Schild (Switzerland/Nepal), director of the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and Dr. Rita Mishaan from the Guatemalan Ministry of the Environment. The event will also be open to the press.

On Monday 10 October the National Forum on Sustainable Development will take place in the CCL in the presence of Federal Councillor Doris Leuthard. The topic will be " Town - Country - Mountain: Rivalry or Alliance for Sustainable Development."

Contact
: Daniel Maselli, DEZA (daniel.maselli@eda.admin.ch, +41 79 734 60 50)

World Mountain Conference in Lucerne