Mountain ranges have long served as natural boundaries, shaping the geopolitical landscape of nations. However, these towering landmarks often straddle borders, creating zones of cooperation or, more frequently, contention. From the Mont Blanc massif in Europe to the young, fragile ranges of the Himalayas, mountainous regions are fraught with overlapping challenges, including natural hazards, climate change, and political disputes. This blog explores the complex dynamics of trans-border mountainous areas, examining how these challenges can ignite conflict or inspire cooperation.
The disputed borders of Mont Blanc and the effects of climate change
Mountains have historically been used to demarcate territories, with their rugged terrain serving as natural barriers. Yet, the very features that make them effective borders also create disputes. Take Mont Blanc, the highest peak in the Alps, for example. Located between Italy and France, this massif has been a subject of contention for centuries. Both nations claim different boundary lines, driven by economic interests and national pride. While the 1860 Act legally defines the border, differing interpretations of cartographic surveys have led to disputes [1].
However, in addition to these longstanding geopolitical tensions, climate change is now playing a crucial role in reshaping the landscape and complicating border issues. The effects of climate change are disproportionately severe in mountain ranges, with warming occurring two to three times faster than the global average [2]. This phenomenon is starkly visible in Mont Blanc, where glacial retreats, rockfalls, and diminished snow cover reshape its iconic landscapes [2]. These environmental changes pose significant challenges for flora, fauna, and human communities, often intensifying existing geopolitical tensions.
In the Swiss Alps, for instance, glaciers are melting at unprecedented rates. Between 2021 and 2023, Switzerland lost 10% of its glaciers, an alarming acceleration compared to the previous decades [3]. Similarly, Italy’s Dosdè Glacier has retreated by seven meters in a single year due to insufficient snow cover [4]. These changes raise critical questions: Are borders amplifying the impacts of climate change, or are climate change impacts reshaping borders?
Conflict and Hazards in the Himalayas
The Himalayan region, encompassing Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and Ladakh, is another trans-border zone with a history of disputes. Shared by India, Pakistan, and China, these areas are marked by high geopolitical tensions. The region’s geological fragility adds another layer of complexity, with frequent seismic activity triggering landslides, debris flows, and other hazards [5], [6]. These challenges are exacerbated by political conflicts that make cooperation difficult, hindering joint disaster preparedness or climate adaptation strategies.
Opportunities for cooperation in trans-border mountainous regions
Despite these challenges, mountainous areas offer unique opportunities for transboundary collaboration. Climate change, though a threat, can also act as a unifying force, demanding joint efforts to address its impacts. There are several reasons for the countries to increase their collaboration in these regions. For instance:
Shared Resources: Many mountain ranges are home to vital resources like water and biodiversity, which can be jointly managed to ensure sustainability.
Knowledge Exchange: Cross-border collaboration enables countries to share expertise, strengthening their respective adaptation strategies.
Cost Sharing: Pooling resources for adaptation measures can reduce the financial burden on individual nations while fostering trust and reducing conflict.
Towards cross-border adaptation frameworks
Designing and implementing effective adaptation strategies to address transboundary climate risks—particularly in sensitive regions like mountains—requires robust and integrated approaches. Key elements of successful frameworks based on current research projects going on include:
- High-Level Coordination
Effective transboundary adaptation necessitates cooperation across national and regional scales. Aligning policies through mechanisms like the UNFCCC National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) ensures that shared risks—such as those linked to water resources or ecosystems—are addressed systematically [7]. Existing regulatory approaches, such as international treaties on water or biodiversity, offer models for collaboration and highlight the importance of viewing climate change adaptation as a national and international responsibility. - Local Engagement
Local and Indigenous knowledge is critical for tailoring adaptation measures to mountain regions’ unique environmental and cultural contexts. For example, in Central Europe, the INTERREG Central Mountains project highlights the need for local communities to shape adaptive actions, as they are most familiar with on-the-ground risks like landslides or water scarcity [8]. Including local voices improves the relevance and feasibility of adaptation strategies. - Integration Across Scales
Transboundary climate risks, such as glacial melt triggering downstream floods, require coordinated responses spanning local to global levels. The Adaptation at Altitude project addresses these challenges by promoting integrated risk assessments, scenario planning, and transboundary agreements [9]. It emphasises data sharing and regional cooperation to tackle cascading hazards effectively.
These principles underscore the necessity of moving beyond country-centric adaptation approaches to more collective and cooperative responses.
Trans-border mountainous areas are both zones of risk and opportunity. While natural and man-made hazards often exacerbate tensions, they also present a unique chance for cooperation. Climate change underscores the urgency of collaborative efforts, as its impacts blur national boundaries and demand shared solutions. By fostering dialogue, sharing resources, and developing inclusive frameworks, nations can transform these regions from flashpoints of conflict into models of resilience and cooperation.
References
[1] “Mont Blanc,” Wikipedia. Nov. 17, 2024. Accessed: Nov. 20, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mont_Blanc&oldid=1257994455
[2] “Nature losing its bearings – a quick overview | ATLAS Mont-Blanc.” Accessed: Nov. 20, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.atlas.creamontblanc.org/en/flyover/
[3] “Switzerland and Italy redraw border as melting glaciers shift the frontier | Euronews.” Accessed: Nov. 20, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.euronews.com/green/2024/09/30/switzerland-and-italy-redraw-border-as-melting-glaciers-shift-the-frontier
[4] “Lombardy glacier in Italy shrinks by seven metres,” euronews. Accessed: Nov. 20, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2024/09/13/dosde-eastern-glacier-on-thin-ice-as-it-retreats-by-seven-metres
[5] R. Hassan, “Disasters in Kashmir: Impact & Response,” IOSR Journal of Humanities and Social Science, vol. 19, pp. 32–42, Jan. 2014, doi: 10.9790/0837-19753242.
[6] D. Molden, E. Sharma, A. B. Shrestha, N. Chettri, N. S. Pradhan, and R. Kotru, “Advancing Regional and Transboundary Cooperation in the Conflict-Prone Hindu Kush–Himalaya,” mred, vol. 37, no. 4, pp. 502–508, Nov. 2017, doi: 10.1659/MRD-JOURNAL-D-17-00108.1.
[7] “Transboundary climate risks and adaptation in mountain areas: a brief for Parties and Observers to the UNFCCC,” Adaptation Without Borders. Accessed: Dec. 01, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://adaptationwithoutborders.org/knowledge-base/adaptation-in-mountains/transboundary-climate-risks-and-adaptation-in-mountain-areas-a-brief-for-parties-and-observers-to-the-unfccc/
[8] “Improving cooperation among mountainous regions,” Interreg Central Europe. Accessed: Dec. 01, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.interreg-central.eu/projects/central-mountains/
[9] Williamson, K., Witton, R. and Lorang, E. (2024). “Leave No Mountain Behind: The Synthesis Series – Adapting to transboundary risks in mountain regions”.
Post edited by Silvia De Angeli and Paulo Hader
