GLOMOS contributes to the first IPROMO Summer School in Central Asia

From 23 June to 7 July 2026, the first IPROMO Summer School in Central Asia took place in Naryn, Kyrgyzstan, under the theme“Glaciers: understanding, preserving and adapting to climate change.” The course was organized within by the Mountain Partnership and hosted by the University of Central Asia and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), with activities taking place at the University of Central Asia’s Naryn Campus in the Kyrgyz Tien Shan mountains (see here the course programme).

The launch of a dedicated IPROMO Central Asia module responds to the urgent challenges facing glacierized mountain regions. in Central Asia, more than 50 percent of glaciers could disappear by 2050, with potential consequences for water and food security for over 64 million people. Against this background, the summer school aimed to strengthen scientific, technical and institutional capacity on sustainable mountain development, glacier preservation, climate adaptation, water management and regional cooperation (see more details here).

The course brought together participants from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, creating a regional learning space for exchange across countries, disciplines and professional backgrounds. Lectures, case studies, group work and field activities explored the interlinkages between climate change in mountain regions, glacier preservation, water management, food systems, biodiversity and livelihoods, while also contributing to broader discussions under the UN Decade of Action for Cryospheric Sciences.

Representing GLOMOS, Stefan Schneiderbauer and Paola Fontanella Pisa contributed a full lecture day on 29 June 2026 titled“Systemic analysis of glacier-related risks in mountains: a participatory tool to identify measures of DRR and CCA.” The session introduced participants to systemic and cascading risks in mountain regions, with a particular focus on glacier-related hazards and their wider implications for disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation.

A central component of the GLOMOS contribution was the Impact Chain methodology, presented as a participatory and practical tool to better understand climate-related risks in mountain regions. Through group work, participants applied the methodology to identify risk factors, including hazard and vulnerability components, and to reflect on exposure across different scales. This hands-on format supported participants in moving from conceptual discussion to the development of initial Impact Chains.

In the afternoon, the session shifted attention to the cultural and social dimensions of risk. Paola Fontanella Pisa led a lecture and discussion on cultural heritage and local knowledge in adaptation planning, focusing on why glaciers matter beyond their physical impacts, how cultural meanings influence risk perception and decision-making, and why local knowledge and heritage should be integrated into risk assessment and planning processes.

Building on the morning group work, participants then revisited their Impact Chains to consider how cultural, social and governance factors could be more explicitly integrated. This exercise encouraged reflection on the ways in which risk pathways are shaped not only by environmental processes, but also by values, knowledge systems, institutions and adaptation choices. The day concluded with group presentations, discussion of key risk pathways and gaps, and a joint reflection on adaptation planning.

The GLOMOS lecture day was designed with clear learning objectives: by the end of the session, participants were expected to better understand systemic and cascading risks in mountain contexts; apply the Impact Chain methodology to real-world scenarios; recognize the role of culture, local knowledge and perception in shaping risk and adaptation; and develop more integrated, context-sensitive approaches to adaptation planning.

Beyond the lecture content, the summer school offered an important opportunity for mutual learning. The GLOMOS session inspired valuable reflections among participants and opened opportunities to further explore systemic risk, Indigenous and Local Knowledge Systems, cultural heritage and glacier-related adaptation in Central Asia, building on the wide range of expertise represented in the course. For GLOMOS, participation in the first IPROMO Central Asia Summer School also provided a meaningful opportunity to engage with experts working on sustainable mountain development from different perspectives and to learn more about the cultural dynamics that shape mountain communities in close interaction with their living environments and cultural landscapes.

The experience reaffirmed the importance of bringing diverse forms of expertise together to address complex mountain risks (see more here). As glacier retreat continues to reshape environmental, social and cultural landscapes across high mountain regions, integrated and participatory approaches are essential for supporting disaster risk reduction, climate adaptation and resilient mountain futures.

GLOMOS warmly thanks the organizers, partners and participants of IPROMO Central Asia 2026 for the rich exchanges and looks forward to continuing dialogue and collaboration on systemic risk, glacier-related hazards, local knowledge and adaptation in Central Asia and beyond.