9 September 2011: The “International Conference on Green Economy and Sustainable Mountain Development: Opportunities and Challenges in View of Rio+20,” organized by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) with support from the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), took place in Kathmandu, Nepal, from 5-7 September 2011. International Development Research Center (IDRC) and UNEP GRID/Arendal provided financial support to the International Conference.

The International Conference, consisting of a two-day Workshop and one-day Conference, brought together international, regional and national experts and policy makers to discuss the relevance and scope of the green economy in the context of sustainable mountain development. It explored strategies, approaches and options for enhancing the role and prominence of mountain systems in regional and international debates and discussions.

Participants contributed to the “Kathmandu Declaration on Green Economy and Sustainable Mountain Development.” Some of the recommendations in the Declaration include: the recognition of benefits derived from mountains; the establishment of global, regional, national and local mechanisms to compensate and reward mountain communities for the services mountains provide; the establishment of favorable conditions for improving markets for mountain ecosystem goods and services; a green economy in mountains based on equity; and access to resources and property rights for mountain women, indigenous communities and marginalized groups. The Declaration, once finalized, will feed into the forthcoming UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD or Rio+20). [IISD RS Coverage]