Indigenous peoples and knowledge in climate adaptation planning for mountain regions

This report summarises a policy brief developed by the University of Geneva, which reviewed National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and related climate policy documents from 48 countries with significant mountain areas to assess how Indigenous Peoples and Indigenous knowledge are reflected in climate adaptation planning. Mountain regions are described as highly climate-vulnerable, facing rising temperatures, glacier retreat, and shifting precipitation patterns that affect both local Indigenous communities and downstream populations who rely on mountain ecosystems for water and food. The review set out to examine whether the growing global recognition of Indigenous knowledge as a climate adaptation asset is actually being reflected in national policy documents and, more importantly, in real-world action.

The key learning is a gap between recognition and implementation: nearly 70% of reviewed NAPs acknowledge Indigenous knowledge as valuable, yet only 12% of planned adaptation actions specifically target mountain regions, and within those, just 4% involve Indigenous Peoples or explicitly use Indigenous knowledge. While countries like Argentina, Guatemala, Nepal, and Timor-Leste show promising examples of translating recognition into concrete mechanisms, the overall pattern shows policy commitments outpacing practical measures. The brief concludes that closing this gap requires moving beyond consultation toward meaningful Indigenous participation—supporting Indigenous rights and governance systems, creating real mechanisms for involvement, investing in knowledge documentation, and fostering collaboration between Indigenous knowledge holders, researchers, and policymakers—particularly within priority sectors like agriculture, water management, and disaster risk reduction where Indigenous knowledge could most directly strengthen adaptation outcomes.