Despite advances in research and practice, losses in high-mountain regions continue to rise. While climate change intensifies many hazard processes, shifting exposure and vulnerability are equally important factors which are currently underresearched. This session will examine these factors to develop a more comprehensive understanding of the forces shaping future mountain risks.

It will examine the evolving dynamics of exposure and vulnerability to hazards as expanding land use places growing numbers of people and assets in hazard-prone areas. However, despite this trend, changes in exposure over multiple spatial and temporal scales remain poorly documented. This highlights the need for improved datasets and analytical approaches to better track these dynamics and their interactions with hazards and adaptation measures. At the same time, the session will address vulnerability, noting that many existing models lack strong validation or empirical grounding. We encourage contributions that draw on diverse data sources and integrate the observational and institutional dimensions of vulnerability. This will support more robust risk modelling and informed discussions about the impacts of climate change and the implications of shared socio-economic pathways for mountain communities.

We welcome studies examining the interactions between hazard processes, land use, socio-economic change, and policy frameworks in mountain environments. We especially welcome approaches that support adaptive, forward-looking risk management, including scenario-based planning, nature-based solutions, community-driven strategies, and assessments aligned with SSPs.