As the international community mobilizes unprecedented resources for climate action and development, it risks leaving behind a critical group of nations—those perched on the world’s highest elevations yet lowest on the ladder of global visibility: Small Mountain States (SMS).
These countries—such as Nepal, Bhutan, Lesotho, Tajikistan, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, and Montenegro—occupy some of the world’s most breathtaking and ecologically vital terrains. Yet, they remain conspicuously absent from the global frameworks that provide dedicated support for vulnerable states.
Small Island Developing States (SIDS) have, for good reason, secured international recognition as uniquely climate-vulnerable. Their collective voice has led to frameworks like the SAMOA Pathway, dedicated funding windows, and prominent platforms in global negotiations. But SMS face parallel challenges—such as isolation, ecological fragility, and climate-induced disasters—without similar recognition or institutional support.
This oversight is a strategic blind spot, and the world cannot afford to ignore it any longer. Small Mountain States are high in altitude, low in support. They face multi-dimensional challenges. Rugged geography limits road access, communication, and service delivery. In Lesotho and Nepal, some communities remain cut off for weeks during winter or monsoon seasons.
From glacial lake outburst floods in Bhutan to landslides in Kyrgyzstan and droughts in Lesotho, climate change is accelerating natural hazards. Glaciers—the lifeblood of many SMS—are retreating at alarming rates.
Promote climate-resilient, niche economies. Rather than replicating lowland industrial models, SMS should be supported in developing high-value sectors: organic high-altitude agriculture, cultural and eco-tourism, clean energy, and artisanal exports. International trade policy and development finance should support branding, market access, and e-commerce platforms for SMS goods and services.
SMS economies are undiversified and often reliant on narrow sectors such as subsistence farming, tourism, or hydropower—all highly vulnerable to climate and market shocks.
Unlike SIDS, mountain states have no formal grouping within the UN or Bretton Woods institutions, no eligibility privileges, and limited access to climate finance.
Despite contributing little to global emissions, these states suffer disproportionately from climate change and structural inequities. Their exclusion from major international frameworks is both a moral failure and a missed opportunity for global sustainability.
Mountains matter—for everyone. These regions provide freshwater to over half the global population, house critical biodiversity hotspots, and serve as carbon sinks vital to climate regulation. Their landscapes safeguard cultural diversity and centuries-old knowledge on adaptation and resilience.
Neglecting mountain states puts regional stability at risk. Water insecurity in Nepal and Tajikistan has transboundary implications. Migration pressures from degraded highlands affect urban centres. Biodiversity loss in the Himalayas and Caucasus weakens global climate resilience.
Support for SMS is not charity—it is global insurance. To integrate mountain states into the global development and climate conversation, world leaders, institutions, and donors must pursue an ambitious, high-altitude strategy. A six-point agenda for action is proposed:
Recognize SMS as a distinct vulnerable group. Just as SIDS are formally recognized, SMS should be classified as a special vulnerability category in the UN system and by multilateral development banks. The proposed Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI) must explicitly include high-altitude metrics. This recognition would open doors to targeted finance and technical assistance.
Create a global coalition of mountain states. SMS need a unified voice. A permanent Mountain States Forum—spearheaded by Nepal, Bhutan, Armenia, and others—could coordinate advocacy, scientific research, and regional collaboration. This coalition could mirror AOSIS, amplifying highland concerns in international negotiations.
Prioritize digital leapfrogging to overcome isolation. Where roads cannot reach, broadband can. Investment in digital connectivity can transform mountain economies and service delivery. Telemedicine, online education, and e-governance must be core components of development strategies. SMS should be prioritized in global digital infrastructure initiatives.
Adopt nature-based solutions for adaptation and growth. SMS can lead the world in scaling ecosystem-based adaptation. Terracing, agroforestry, reforestation, and conservation-based tourism generate income while enhancing resilience. These should be integrated into National Adaptation Plans and receive priority in climate finance allocations.
What have we done for the world’s mountain nations? Because if we continue to ignore them, we may not only lose their communities and cultures—but also the glaciers, rivers, and ecosystems that nourish the rest of us.
Promote climate-resilient, niche economies. Rather than replicating lowland industrial models, SMS should be supported in developing high-value sectors: organic high-altitude agriculture, cultural and eco-tourism, clean energy, and artisanal exports. International trade policy and development finance should support branding, market access, and e-commerce platforms for SMS goods and services.
Reform climate finance access. SMS face structural disadvantages in accessing international climate funds. Application complexity, limited data, and low institutional capacity leave them behind. Donors and funds must simplify access, support regional proposals, and introduce mountain-specific funding windows to fast-track urgent adaptation needs.
The case for supporting Small Mountain States is a moral imperative and a strategic necessity. These nations are suffering from a convergence of crises: climate shocks, economic marginalization, and political invisibility. Their plight mirrors that of SIDS—but with higher altitudes and steeper barriers.
By recognizing and resourcing SMS, the global community can unlock resilience dividends for entire regions and ecosystems. These nations can become models of sustainable adaptation, biodiversity conservation, and green economic transformation.
At the upcoming United Nations General Assembly, COP30, and World Bank meetings, world leaders must ask themselves:
What have we done for the world’s mountain nations? Because if we continue to ignore them, we may not only lose their communities and cultures—but also the glaciers, rivers, and ecosystems that nourish the rest of us.
Now is the time to bring mountain states into the center of the global stage—not because they are weak, but because they are essential.
Let this be the decade when the world finally looks up—and acts.
(Former Senior Advisor, Office of the President and Deputy Director General, South Asia, Asian Development Bank. Global thought leader on economic policy, infrastructure, and development finance, with a focus on inclusive growth and reimagining global institutions. Views are personal.)
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