The UN General Assembly has designated 2022 the International Year of Sustainable Mountain Development. All governments, international organizations, and stakeholders are invited to use the Year to increase awareness of the importance of conserving and sustainably using mountain ecosystems.

By the resolution, UN Member States acknowledge that mountain regions, especially in developing countries, are experiencing increasing poverty, food insecurity, social exclusion, environmental degradation and exposure to the risk of disasters, and access to basic services is limited. These include safe and affordable drinking water, basic sanitation, and sustainable modern energy services.

The resolution invites the International Partnership for Sustainable Development in Mountain Regions (Mountain Partnership), in collaboration with other relevant organizations, to facilitate the observance of the International Year.

The text was adopted by consensus on 16 December 2021. Kyrgyzstan introduced the draft resolution, noting that mountain countries constitute unique types of ecosystems, providing habitat for unique species of flora and fauna. The problems they face due to climate change, therefore, are specific, and adaptation and mitigation require the implementation of a special set of measures. The representative of Kyrgyzstan said proclaiming the Year recognizes the need for preserving the global life support system that is indispensable to the survival of the global ecosystem. [UNGA resolution] [UNGA meeting summary] [Mountain protection in 2030 Agenda]