On July 7, 2022, on behalf of the Utah International Mountain Forum (UIMF), a coalition of student clubs at Utah Valley University (UVU), I attended the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) side event” "Mountains and sustainable development: a pathway for accelerating action." This was a great learning experience on how interventions work.
UN sessions have three levels of events. The top level is spoken by/to the secretariat, the middle level is side events that are hosted by member states, with the lower level is parallel events hosted by Non-government Organizations (NGOs). This event was hosted by the Mountain Partnership and member states, such as Kyrgyzstan.
Attendees of HLPF side event with myself located top row, second from Left
It was focused on Sustainable Mountain Development (SMD), a topic that is dear to my heart. Mountains are some of the most neglected and impoverished in the world, and my home in Gunnison Valley, Utah, has had many of the same struggles as other rural mountain areas.
The event focused on five objectives:
It was moderated by Ms. RosaLaura Romeo, Mountain Partnership Secretariat Programme Coordinator, and FAO Officer. The speakers consisted of Maria Uback, Andorra’s Minister of Foreign Affairs; Nurlan Aitmurzaev, Special Envoy of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic; H.E. Amnt Bahadur Rai, Permanent Representative of Nepal to the UN; Diego Belevȧn, Acting Deputy Permanent Representative of Peru; Jigme Norbu, Permanent Mission of Bhutan, and Karinjo Devore, President of Aspen International Mountain Foundation (AIMF). Each speaker focused on the effects of climate change on mountain ecosystems and biodiversity, with some talking about the impact Covid-19 had on mountain regions. They also addressed the importance of combating climate change through policies and advocacy. I noticed that the event highlighted “the crucial role of education at all levels to promote SMD,” but there was no one representing academic institutions among speakers.
This is important as students, especially non-traditional, have many skills which work towards SMD. The topic of mitigating climate change in mountain communities is the one we, UIMF members with faculty and students at Osh Technological University in Kyrgyzstan, addressed in March by hosting a parallel event at the UN 66th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. We explained our experiences with climate change and the effect education, and non-traditional students can have on SMD advocacy, especially in combating this global challenge.
It was due to this, UIMF mentor, Professor Abdrisaev, advised me on the best way to intervene further to bring attention to my home and the power my fellow peers at UVU and OshTU have through Student Engaged Learning to advocate for our mountain heritage.
FAO Officer RosaLaura Romero speaks about UIMF contributions
As both Kyrgyzstan and Utah are facing massive drought due to climate change, we want to continue to fight for change. Our comment urged the UN to bring more attention to the importance of education and climate change. We asked if the member states, especially Kyrgyzstan, would host us for a side event during CSW67 next year to bring the SEL method to more colleges and give those students the same opportunities we have received.
A copy of the message which I posted on the chat on behalf of UIMF
UIMF’s intervention about the importance of education both in the chat and in person
The Mountain Partnership Secretariat Programme Coordinator, RosaLaura Romero, was incredibly supportive during the side event, and each year, in our fight for SMD. She mentioned the efforts UIMF has given towards SMD advocacy during the side event and was gracious in our learning journey.
Alitha Thompson, Vice President of the Utah International Mountain Forum
