Latest News

10.21.2022 / Arn Menconi, Special to the Aspen Times — Mountain towns aim for net zero emissions as snowpack forecast to drop 50 percent by 2080

ASPEN — Colorado’s mountain towns make up a fraction of the 1.6 billion people globally who live in mountain communities, but Aspen recently served as base camp for a UN partnership working to combat the effects of climate change. Representatives from mountain towns in more than 60 countries met in Aspen last month for the United Nations’ sixth Global Meeting of the Mountain Partnership. The four-day meeting ranged from Colorado’s snowpack concerns to historic flooding affecting one-third of Pakistan’s population.

10.07.2022 / Jason Blevins, The Colorado Sun —  Colorado gear merchants find untapped promise — and profit — in secondhand stuff

ASPEN — Steve Skadron, the three-term Aspen mayor who now serves as dean for Colorado Mountain College’s campuses in Aspen and Carbondale, has spent several years working on a plan to train Colorado Mountain College students on small-scale manufacturing and sewing, local and regional sourcing of materials, entrepreneurship and the principles of a circular economy that reuses materials and products for as long as possible. His dream is to see local manufacturing outposts across the Western Slope where gear can be repaired or recycled for a second user.

10.05.2022 / Eleanor Bennett, Aspen Public Radio— Local leaders from Aspen to Vail call for regional climate action

ASPEN — From wildfires to drought and dwindling snowpack, local communities are facing the impacts of the human-caused climate crisis. Eight mayors and county commissioners from Aspen to Vail came together during a three-day United Nations convening last week to talk about solutions and the importance of regional collaboration.

10.02.2022 / IISD Earth Negotiations Bulletin — Highlights and images for Tuesday, 27 September 2022

ASPEN — Mountains are some of the most important ecosystems for the survival of the planet, providing essential goods and services. The Sixth Global Meeting of the Mountain Partnership convenes under the topic: “Mountains Matter: Ideas to Action/Building Alliances for Resilient Mountains.” This meeting is the main event of the United Nations International Year of Sustainable Mountain Development 2022. Rosalaura Romeo, Programme Coordinator, Mountain Partnership Secretariat, welcomed delegates to the Sixth Global Meeting of the Mountain Partnership, stressing its role in shaping the mountain agenda for the next four years. 

10.02.2022 / IISD Earth Negotiations Bulletin — Highlights and images for Wednesday, 28 September 2022

ASPEN — The Sixth Global Meeting of the Mountain Partnership convened for its second day and heard panel presentations under the overarching theme: Mountain Partnership Looks Ahead, Pathways for Accelerating Action in the next four years. Delegates then discussed and endorsed the Mountain Partnership strategy documents with some amendments. In the afternoon, side events took place followed by the parade of flags and a concert by Rapidgrass in Aspen.

10.02.2022 / IISD Earth Negotiations Bulletin — Highlights and images for Thursday, 29 September 2022

ASPEN — The Sixth Global Meeting of the Mountain Partnership convened for its third day to conduct elections for its Steering Committee, which met for the first time in the afternoon. Delegates took in the Hurst Lecture, organized by the Aspen Institute, on “Building Alliances for Resilient Mountains: Changing the Way We Think About Climate Change.” They then endorsed the Aspen Declaration and welcomed two new Goodwill Ambassadors for the Mountain Partnership. The meeting ended with closing remarks from government and international representatives. Delegates were invited to attend excursions into the mountains in the afternoon and the following day.

10.02.2022 / IISD Earth Negotiations Bulletin — Summary report, 27–29 September 2022 6th Global Meeting of the Mountain Partnership

ASPEN —Mountains cover about 27 percent of the Earth’s land area and provide ecosystem services, such as stabilizing slopes, regulating the climate and hydrological cycles, and supporting livelihoods, to billions of people. They host about half of the world’s biodiversity hotspots and 30 percent of all key biodiversity areas, as well as vital genetic resources for locally adapted crops and livestock. 

09.27.2022 / Arn Menconi, Special to the Aspen Times —  Excitement, purpose guide mountain town climate summit in Aspen

ASPEN — Mayor Torre was excited on Tuesday to welcome the world of mountain towns to Aspen. “This is hands down the biggest climate event ever in Aspen,” he said. “Bringing the event to Aspen is because of a lot of hard work from Aspen International Mountain Foundation, which has been at the table on regional, national and international solutions.” Delegates are here for the Sixth Global Meeting of the Mountain Partnership. It is the only United Nations voluntary alliance of partners dedicated to mountain peoples and environments, with over 450 members from 96 countries, including national and local governments, intergovernmental organizations, NGOs, private sector businesses and nonprofits. the first time in North America for the United Nations alliance Mountain Partnerships Mountains Matter Ideas to Action..

09.22.2022 / Eleanor Bennett, Aspen Public Radio— Mountain community leaders convening in Aspen on climate change and sustainability

ASPEN — Leaders from mountain communities around the world are coming to Aspen next week to talk about sustainable development in the face of climate change and other environmental threats. Aspen Public Radio talked with the president of the Aspen International Mountain Foundation about the United Nations’ sixth Global Meeting of the Mountain Partnership.

Press Releases

09.23.2022 — UN Mountain Partnership Meeting to feature afternoon public side events

ASPEN — International experts on a variety of issues facing mountain communities — climate change, sustainable economic development, environmental resilience, incorporating indigenous cultures and knowledge — will sit on panels that are open to the public every day during the Sixth Global Meeting of the Mountain Partnership in Aspen, Sept. 27-29.

08.25.2022 — Colorado to host delegates from mountain nations for UN event in Aspen

ASPEN —Delegates from mountain countries around the world will convene in Aspen on September 26-29 to attend the Sixth Global Meeting of the Mountain Partnership, the main event of the “International Year of Sustainable Mountain Development 2022.”

08.25.2022 — How to attend a UN Mountain Partnership meeting

ASPEN — The Sixth Global Meeting of the Mountain Partnership being held September 27-29 in Aspen includes three days of plenary meetings attended by delegates from all over the world working on the organization’s agenda and high-level advocacy goals for the next four years. The meeting will be conducted in English, French, Russian and Spanish.

06.16.2022 — Next Mountain Partnership Global Meeting to be held in Aspen, USA in 2022 

Rome, Italy, June 16, 2021 - The Aspen International Mountain Foundation (AIMF) will host the sixth Global Meeting of the Mountain Partnership in Aspen, Colorado, United States of America in September 2022, as decided by vote of the Mountain Partnership Steering Committee.

12.16.2021 — The Aspen International Mountain Foundation (AIMF) Announces Exciting Developments Leading to the UN Mountain Partnership Global Meeting in September 2022  

Aspen, CO, Dec 16, 2021 - Aspen, CO, December 16, 2022 - On Thursday, December 16, the UN General Assembly proclaimed 2022 the International Year of Sustainable Mountain Development. Proclaiming 2022 as the year of sustainable mountain development is a major advance for the UN’s Mountain Partnership, an alliance of mountain countries, governments and NGOs and which has been asked to manage activities associated with this 2022 theme. 

06.22.2021 — AIMF, Colorado and Aspen Selected to Host the UN Mountain Partnership Global Meeting 

Aspen, CO, June 21, 2021 - The Aspen International Mountain Foundation (AIMF) is pleased to announce that it has been selected, along with the State of Colorado and the City of Aspen, to host the Sixth United Nations Mountain Partnership Global Meeting September 26-29, 2022.

In the News

Local News in Brief
ASPEN, December 28, 2021 - Heading into the New Year, the United Nations General Assembly on Dec. 16 proclaimed 2022 the International Year of Sustainable Mountain Development. It’s fitting then that, Sept. 26-28 next year, Aspen will host the UN’s Mountain Partnership, an alliance of mountain countries, governments and NGOs, global meeting.

Outdoor Recreation Industry Office Joins United Nations Global Mountain Partnership
DENVER, January 6, 2022 - The Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office (OREC), a division of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT), has been accepted as a member of the United Nations Global Mountain Partnership.

Four Recipients of Meetings and Events Direct Support Grant Announced

2022 Proclaimed "International Year of Sustainable Mountain Development"

Aspen to host United Nations event in September 2022

United Nations event set for Aspen in 2022

Facing climate change and building resilience In mountain towns

CMC joins International Mountain Partnership, invited to Gross National Happiness conference

Gross National Happiness 7th International Conference in Bhutan

Aspen delegation attends ‘gross national happiness conference’ in Bhutan

Statement Advocating Mountain Women is included in the agenda of the UN CSW62

International petition seeks attention for mountain countries

Bringing it home: Aspen nonprofit gains seat at UN table

Snowmass eyed for membership in U.N. Mountain Partnership

North American Mountain Partnership hub created

UIMF Partner, AIMF in Aspen, CO, recognized by the UN

U.N.’s Mountain Partnership program looks to establish new North American hub in Aspen

Climate change bridges gap between Aspen and Uganda

Live. Love. Eat. Mountain.

About the Mountain Partnership

The Mountain Partnership is the only United Nations voluntary alliance of partners dedicated to improving the lives of mountain peoples and protecting mountain environments around the world. Founded in 2002, the Mountain Partnership addresses the challenges facing mountain regions by tapping the wealth and diversity of resources, knowledge, information, and expertise, from and between its members, in order to stimulate concrete initiatives at all levels that will ensure improved quality of life and environments in the world’s mountain regions. Currently, more than 450 governments, intergovernmental organizations, major groups (e.g., civil society, NGOs and the private sector) and subnational authorities are members. 

About the Aspen International Mountain Foundation (AIMF)

Founded in 2001, Aspen-based nonprofit AIMF promotes sustainable development in mountain environments and communities in Colorado and around the world. On July 21, 2021, AIMF was granted special consultative status by the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), a highly discretionary designation that enables an organization to engage in a number of ways with ECOSOC and its subsidiary bodies, the Human Rights Council and, under specific conditions, some meetings of the General Assembly and other intergovernmental bodies, as well as with the United Nations Secretariat. AIMF was instrumental in developing the mountain-related actions within the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) and participated in the Paris Accords. AIMF is co-chair of the Steering Committee of the Mountain Partnership and represents North and Central America and the Caribbean region. It will have a major role in developing the action items for the year.

AIMF HISTORY

AIMF was was instrumental in developing the mountain-related actions within the United Nation’s 2015 Sustainable Development Goals and participated in the Paris Agreement. AIMF is a governing member of the UN Mountain Partnership.

AIMF evolved from a decade of working with the United Nations Environment Programme, the City of Aspen, the Aspen Institute, and Aspen Sister Cities. These collaborative efforts culminated in a dedicated focus on mountain sustainable development. This included international conferences such as the Sustainable Mountain Conference, Hokkaido, Japan (1995) and Chamonix Tourism Summits (1996-2001). 

In 2017, AIMF partnered with the Telluride Institute and Western Colorado University’s Center for Mountain Transitions and formed the Mountain Resilience Coalition to help further its efforts to protect fragile mountain environments and communities.

UN MOUNTAIN PARTNERSHIP ROLE

Since 2013, AIMF has served as the United Nations Mountain Partnership Steering Committee representative for Major Group Organizations of North and Central America and the Caribbean.