International Mountain Day is celebrated annually on December 11 to increase public awareness of the value of mountains to both life and climate. The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) established International Mountain Day to recognise the importance of mountains. Nearly 15 per cent of the world’s population lives in mountains, which also house roughly half of the planet’s biodiversity hotspots. The theme this year is ‘Women Move Mountains.’
History
The day came into existence in 2003. The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development accepted Chapter 13 of Agenda 21: Managing Fragile Ecosystems: Sustainable Mountain Development in 1992. With such widespread support, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 2002 to be the “United Nations International Year of Mountains.” The group determined that beginning in 2003, December 11 would be designated as World Mountain Day annually.