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Sixth Global Meeting of the Mountain Partnership

Program

Location: Aspen Meadows Resort, 845 Meadows Rd, Aspen, Colorado 81611
Time Zone: Mountain Daylight Time (MDT)
Program subject to change.

Program

Subject to change.
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About the Global Meeting

PRE-MEETING — Thursday-Monday, September 23-26

Thursday, September 23-Sunday, September 25 – Moving Mountains Summit of the Mountain Sentinels Coordination Network (Mountain Partnership Sixth Global Meeting co-sponsor). This summit, held at the Rocky Mountain Institute in Basalt, Colorado, unites academics, practitioners, educators, students, decision-makers, community knowledge holders and Indigenous rights-holders. It examines the most critical challenges and opportunities mountain communities face. Partners aim to help build pathways to sustainability across mountain systems worldwide.

Monday, September 26, 9:00am-5:00pm (09.00-20.00) – Training workshop (by invitation only): Estimating land degradation in mountain regions (Day 1) / Hudson Commons/Boettcher

Monday, September 26, 6:00pm-9:30pm (18.00-21.30) – On-site registration opens / Lobby/Walter Isaacson Center

Watch Tuesday Plenary Sessions Online

DAY 1 — Tuesday, September 27

(McNulty Room/Doerr-Hosier Center unless otherwise noted)

7:00-10:00am – On-site registration / McNulty/Doerr-Hosier

8:30am-9:15am –

Welcome address:

  • Rosalaura Romeo, Programme Coordinator, Mountain Partnership Secretariat (MPS)
  • Torre, Mayor of Aspen

Blessing ceremony – Buffalo Child

Welcome addresses (continued):

  • Arjun Gupta, Chief Believer at Telesoft Partners, Mountain Partnership Goodwill Ambassador
  • Jared Polis, Governor of Colorado
  • Rick Miranda, Interim President, Colorado State University

9:15-10:00am – Opening high-level statements – Moderator: Jake Norton, President of MountainWorld Productions, Mountain Partnership Goodwill Ambassador

  • Ève Bazaiba Masudi, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Sílvia Calvó Armengol, Minister of Environment, Agriculture and Sustainability, Andorra
  • Richard James Randriamandrato, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Madagascar
  • Sam Mangusho Cheptoris, Minister of Water and Environment, Uganda
  • Igli Hasani, Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)
  • Pem Narayan Kandel, Secretary, Ministry of Forests and Environment, Nepal
  • Zoritsa Urosevic, Executive Director, World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)

Mountain Partnership Founding members:

  • Livio Spadavecchia, Counselor, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Italy
  • François Pythoud, Special Envoy for International Sustainable Agriculture, Switzerland
  • Doreen Robinson, Head of Biodiversity and Land, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
  • Thomas Hofer, Senior Forestry Officer, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

10:00-10:10am – Presentation of agenda and overview of Aspen Declaration – Introduction: Rosalaura Romeo, MPS / McNulty/Doerr-Hosier

10:10-10:30am – International Year of Sustainable Mountain Development 2022 celebration – Moderator: Rosalaura Romeo, MPS

Opportunities and achievements

  • Reading of statement by Dinara Kutmanova, Minister of Natural Resources, Environment and Technical Supervision, Kyrgyz Republic
  • Nurlan Aitmurzaev, Special Envoy of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic on Mountain Issues, Ambassador, Kyrgyz Republic

Discussion

10:30-10:50am – Coffee break

10:50-1:00pm (10.50-13.00) – Stepping up the mountain agenda: Priorities and challenges – Introduction: Sara Manuelli, MPS

Panel 1: Climate action – Moderator: Morgan Seag, Global Mountains Director, International Cryosphere Climate Initiative

  • Richard James Randriamandrato, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Madagascar
  • Marc Rossell Soler, Secretary of State for Agriculture and Sustainability, Andorra
  • Igli Hasani, Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)
  • Basanta Raj Shrestha, Director of Strategic Cooperation, International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development
  • Ana Vukoje, Associate Programme Officer, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

Discussion, Q&A

Panel 2: Ecosystem restoration and protection – Moderator: Thomas Hofer, FAO

  • Adriana Vidal, Senior Policy Officer, International Union for Conservation of Nature
  • Julia Vicioso, Deputy, Minister Counsellor, Permanent Mission of the Dominican Republic to FAO
  • Sam Mangusho Cheptoris, Minister of Water and Environment, Uganda
  • Doreen Robinson, Head of Biodiversity and Land, UNEP

Discussion, Q&A

Panel 3: Building sustainable mountain food systems and resilient livelihoods – Moderator: Giorgio Grussu, MPS

  • François Pythoud, Special Envoy For International Sustainable Agriculture, Switzerland
  • Michel Julian, Senior Officer, Tourism Market Intelligence and Competitiveness Department, UNWTO (virtual)
  • Patricia Breuer Moreno, Co-Founder, Mujeres a la Cumbre and Mountain Women of the World Network
  • Federico Mattei, Project Development Manager, Slow Food

Discussion, Q&A

1:00-2:00pm (13.00-14.00) Lunch / Davis Commons  

  • Video remarks from Joe Neguse, U.S. representative for Colorado's 2nd congressional district

2:00-2:50pm (14.00-14.50) – Stepping up the mountain agenda: Priorities and challenges (continued) / McNulty/Doerr-Hosier
 

Panel 4: Financing opportunities – Moderator: Yoko Watanabe, Global Manager, GEF Small Grants Programme, United Nations Development Programme

  • Paola Agostini, Lead Natural Resources Management Specialist, Europe and Central Asia Region Environment, Natural Resources, and Blue Economy Global Practice, World Bank (virtual)
  • Gloria Schoch, Senior Director of Global Impact, VF Corporation & Executive Director, VF Foundation
  • Giorgio Grussu, MPS
  • Wende Valentine, Executive Director, dZi Foundation

Discussion, Q&A

3:00-6:00pm (15.00-18.00) – Workshop; Public Side Events & Exhibits

  • 3:00-6:00pm (15.00-18.00): Training workshop (by invitation only): Estimating land degradation in mountain regions (Day 2) / Hudson/Boettcher
  • 3:00-4:00pm (15.00-16.00): Mountain outdoor and sports for nature – Challenges and opportunities; ; video message from John Hickenlooper, US Senator for Colorado (McNulty/Doerr-Hosier) / McNulty/Doerr-Hosier  Watch Webinar Online
  • 4:10-5:10pm (16.10-17.10): Tackling the climate crisis at altitude by fostering a community of practice / McNulty/Doerr-Hosier Watch Webinar Online
  • 5:20-6:20pm(17.20-18.20): Strengthening the Andean Mountain Initiative Governance for resilient societies in the region / Kauffman/Doerr-Hosier  Watch Online: Edited Footage Coming Soon!
  • 5:20-6:20pm (17.20-18.20): How higher education fosters climate action and sustainability for mountains and is training the next generation / McNulty/Doerr-Hosier  Watch Webinar Online

 7:00-9:30pm (19.00-21.30) — Gala Welcome Dinner (Dress: cocktail attire; cultural dress welcomed) / Davis Commons

  • Welcome from Karinjo DeVore, AIMF President
  • Video message from Michael Bennet, US Senator for Colorado
  • Musical entertainment by “Valle Musico”
Watch Wednesday Plenary Sessions Online

DAY 2 — Wednesday, September 28

8:30-10:40am – The Mountain Partnership looks ahead: Pathways for accelerating action in the next four years – Introduction: Sara Manuelli, MPS / McNulty/Doerr-Hosier 

Panel 1: Transboundary cooperation – Moderator: Matthias Jurek, Programme Manager, UNEP

  • Wolfger Mayrhofer, Deputy Secretary-General, Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention
  • Veronica Țaran Baciu, General Director, National Agency of the Mountain Area, Romania
  • Carlos Jaime Montoya Montero, Counselor, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Peru
  • María Rosa Cárdenas Tomažič, Associate Programme Specialist, Man and the Biosphere Programme, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

Panel 2: Alliances, advocacy, processes and United Nations conventions – Moderator: Rosalaura Romeo, MPS

  • Sílvia Calvó Armengol, Minister of Environment, Agriculture and Sustainability, Andorra
  • Malik Amin Aslam Khan, Climate Expert and Former Minister for Climate Change, Pakistan
  • François Pythoud, Special Envoy For International Sustainable Agriculture, Switzerland
  • Pem Narayan Kandel, Secretary, Ministry of Forests and Environment, Nepal

Panel 3: Science and knowledge for policy – Moderator: Björn Alfthan, Principal Expert, Polar and Climate Programme, GRID-Arendal

  • Carolina Adler, Executive Director, Mountain Research Initiative (virtual)
  • Stefan Schneiderbauer, Head of GLOMOS Center, Eurac Research / United Nations University
  • Alexandra Mackey, Project Manager, Zoï Environment Network
  • Lawrence Ignace, Vice Chair, Board of Directors, Canadian Mountain Network

Panel 4: Innovation, infrastructure and digital connectivity – Moderator: Arjun Gupta, Chief Believer, TeleSoft Partners

  • Marc Pons, Executive Director, Andorra Research and Innovation
  • Natalia Bayona, Director of Innovation, UNWTO (virtual)
  • Lizette Huezo, Department Head, Entrepreneurship Department of the Western Region, Tecnológico de Monterrey
  • Onno Ruhl, General Manager, Aga Khan Agency for Habitat

Discussion, Q&A

10:40-11:00am – Coffee break

11:00am-1:00pm (11.00-13.00) – MP strategy documents presentation and endorsement – Moderator: Rosalaura Romeo and Fabio Parisi, MPS / McNulty/Doerr-Hosier

  • Advocacy Strategy
  • Communication Strategy
  • Governance Paper

Discussion

1:00-1:50pm (13.00-13.50) – Lunch / Davis Commons 

1:50-5:00pm (13.50-17.00) – Workshop; Public Side Events & Exhibits

  • 13.50-17.00: Training workshop (by invitation only): Estimating land degradation in mountain regions (Day 3)
  • 13:50-14:50: Sustainable land management and biodiversity conservation for ecosystem-based adaptation: Generating sustainable socio-economic opportunities for mountain communities (Kauffman/Doerr-Hosier)  Watch Online: Edited Footage Coming Soon!
  • 13.50-14.50: Braiding Indigenous knowledge and western science: Experiences and solutions for sustainable mountain development (McNulty/Doerr-Hosier)  Watch Webinar Online
  • 14:55-15:55: Knowledge generation and management and strategic partnerships for sustainable mountain development in South America (Kauffman/Doerr-Hosier)  Watch Online: Edited Footage Coming Soon!
  • 14.55-15.55: Keeping our mountains waste-free (McNulty/Doerr-Hosier)  Watch Webinar Online
  • 16.00-17.00: Community: Talk globally, act locally (McNulty/Doerr-Hosier)  Watch Webinar Online

5:45-8:00pm (17.45-20.00) – Aspen Gondola Plaza Parade of flags and outdoor concert by “Rapidgrass” / Aspen Gondola Plaza

Watch Thursday Plenary Sessions Online

DAY 3 — Thursday, September 29

8:30-10:00am – Election of the Steering Committee – Moderator: Livio Spadavecchia, Counselor, Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Italy and Chair of the Mountain Partnership Steering Committee and Rosalaura Romeo, MPS / McNulty/Doerr-Hosier 

Introduction and information about the Steering Committee’s role

Breakouts by electoral groups

Endorsement of Steering Committee candidates

10:00-10:30am – Coffee break

10:30-11:45am – Aspen Institute Forum on climate change “Building alliances for resilient mountains”

11:45-12:30pm – 

Nomination of new Mountain Partnership Goodwill Ambassadors – Moderators: Sara Manuelli, MPS and Jake Norton, President of MountainWorld Productions, Mountain Partnership Goodwill Ambassador

  • Luis Benitez, Vice President for Government Affairs and Global Impact, VF Corporation (virtual)
  • Nikki Pitre, Executive Director, Center for Native American Youth

Presentation of the Aspen Declaration – Introduction: Torre, Mayor of Aspen / McNulty/Doerr-Hosier 

Recap and conclusions

12:3-1:00pm (12.30-13.00) – Closing remarks – Moderator: Rosalaura Romeo, MPS

  • Sílvia Calvó Armengol, Minister of Environment, Agriculture and
    Sustainability, Andorra
  • Livio Spadavecchia, Counselor, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Italy
  • François Pythoud, Special Envoy for International Sustainable
    Agriculture, Switzerland
  • Thomas Hofer, Senior Forestry Officer, FAO
  • Eric Smith, Vice-President, AIMF
  • Karinjo DeVore, President, AIMF
  • Klaus Obermeyer film
  • Klaus Obermeyer, Founder, Sport Obermeyer

1:00-2:00pm (13.30-14.30) – Lunch / Davis Commons

2:30-4:30pm (14.00-16.00) – 1st Steering Committee meeting (closed meeting) / Hudson/Boettcher

4:00-5:00pm (16.00-17.00) - Excursion / Ashcroft Ghost Town

5:00-9:30pm (17.00-21.30) -Delegate Dinner / Pine Creek Cookhouse, Ashcroft

POST-MEETING — Friday, September 30

Sightseeing excursions for visiting delegates (must pre-register)

  • Maroon Bells drive & hike  (8:30-10:00am) 
  • Aspen Mountain Gondola ride (open 10:30am-12:30pm)
  • Aspen Art Museum (TBA)
“With less than eight years to the expiration of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, it is necessary to accelerate solutions to the biggest challenges in mountains. We need investments and policies to combat the effects of climate change and to improve mountain livelihoods.”  — Roberto Natali, Plenipotentiary Minister and Directorate General for Development Cooperation for the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Chair of the Mountain Partnership Steering Committee.  

 

About the Global Meeting

The Sixth Global Meeting of the Mountain Partnership will be held at the Aspen Meadows Resort in Aspen, CO, USA on 26-29 September 2022. The meeting is being organized jointly by the Mountain Partnership, the state of Colorado, the City of Aspen, the Aspen Institute, and the Aspen International Mountain Foundation (AIMF). This two-and-a-half-day event, which will be conducted in English, French, Spanish and Russian, will establish the Mountain Partnership agenda and high-level advocacy goals for the next four years. It aims to place sustainability and the resilience of mountain ecosystems and communities at the center of international processes, policies and investments within the framework of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the International Year of Sustainable Mountain Development 2022.

In addition to members' sessions, the meeting will feature daily side-events on topics related to engagement of the private sector, strengthening the Mountain Partnership’s relationships with mountain athletes and sport industry, and sustainable mountain development, including climate change, ecotourism, renewable energy, disaster mitigation and water conservation. US policy makers and outdoor industry executives will participate and develop action items in concert with key officials from North America and around the world. The gathering will culminate with a forum, hosted by the Aspen Institute, featuring a public keynote address and panel discussions with representatives and key experts.

This meeting of Mountain Partnership members is an important opportunity to develop and share action plans to protect mountains and the global environment. It will also provide an opportunity to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Mountain Partnership and mark the “International Year of Sustainable Mountain Development 2022,” an opportunity to increase awareness about sustainable mountain development all over the world.

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