Mountains: A Very Short Introduction

Mountains cover a quarter of the Earth's land surface and are home to about 12 percent of the global population. They are the sources of all the world's major rivers, affect regional weather patterns, provide centres of biological and cultural diversity, hold deposits of minerals, and provide both active and contemplative recreation. Yet mountains are also significantly affected by climate change; as melting and retreating glaciers show. Given the manifold goods and services which mountains provide to the world, such changes are of global importance.

In this Very Short Introduction, Martin Price outlines why mountains matter at the global level, and addresses the existing and likely impacts of climate change on mountain, hydrological and ecological systems. Considering the risks associated with the increasing frequency of extreme events and 'natural hazards' caused by climate change, he discusses the implications for both mountain societies and wider populations, and concludes by emphasizing the need for greater cooperation in order to adapt to climate change in our increasingly globalized world.

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Martin Price, University of the Highlands and Islands at Perth

Martin Price holds the Unesco Chair for Sustainable Mountain Development at the University of Highlands and Islands at Perth, where he is also Director of the Centre for Mountain Studies. He has been involved in various international initiatives for the conservation of mountain regions. He is recognized as an international authority on the subject, and author of a number of research papers and reports.