Articles

Looking for answers to resource shortages

Resources are finite, including those in the Alps. What solutions are available for living a good life that do not simply depend on ever more consumption? Some answers will be provided at the CIPRA Annual Conference to be held in November 2014 in Annecy, France Read More…

Bad atmosphere in the Alps

Never before have atmospheric CO2 levels been as high as those recorded in April 2014. Many Alpine valleys are suffering from poor air quality. This puts the health of many people in the Rhône-Alpes Region at risk - lower motorway speeds can be part of the solution. Read More…

Strange but true...

... a white complexion, slim, almost dainty – truly a feast for the eyes. And, most important of all, very well developed. Read More…

Improvisational Theatre: Macro-Region for the Alps

Is it a comedy, a farce, or a whodunnit? In any case, the subject matter - an Alpine macro-region - is controversial and the cast high-powered. Inspired by the EU, Alpine countries and regions take to the stage while the Alpine Convention assumes the role of input provider. Read More…

The Human Yardstick

What role does CIPRA play on the international architecture scene? Köbi Gantenbein on the subject of CIPRA's work with Constructive Alps, the competition for sustainable construction and renovation in the Alps. Read More…

Help with Decision-Making

Unused knowledge is useless knowledge. In a world of climate change, CIPRA guidelines show how to prepare for unpredictable scenarios. Read More…

"Alpstar has been like a Lift"

Carbon-neutral Alps - this is the objective pursued by Alpstar's various project partners. The Alpine Rhine Valley has been selected as a pilot region to see how commuters can be motivated to switch to sustainable means of transport, with Hilti AG in Schaan/LI participating as a model company. Hilti's Chief Mobility Officer Daniel Oehry talks about the interaction between CIPRA and other partners. Read More…

Young people beyond boundaries

The Youth Parliament of the Alpine Convention (YPAC), held in Chamonix, sought to find solutions for creating an open society. Political education and more information were uppermost on the wish list of the participants, who came from all of the Alpine countries. Read More…

Live simply!

The Alps and their natural resources are coming under increased pressure. But how can a change in values open the door to an ecologically sustainable way of life? CIPRA investigates this question in its latest annual report. Read More…

Service as the key to success

Numerous mountain communities in Europe would like to build or renovate their kindergartens, schools or community centres in an energy-efficient way so as to save costs and energy. Implementation is a major challenge, however, as know-how and experience are still lacking. A service package can now provide further help. Read More…

Strange but true!

... Winter ade, scheiden tut weh – Winter must go, parting hurts, as the old German folk song runs. The little Austrian community of Ramsau is now ignoring this piece of wisdom, as well as the laws of nature. Read More…

Freedom from Excess

Whether the subject is energy, transport or tourism, at CIPRA the sustainability debate is increasingly focussing on the question: What do we really need to live a good life? With the Alpine Dialogue on Energy Transition, CIPRA is contributing to today's sufficiency debate. In October 2013, CIPRA opened the dialogue with a workshop in Lucerne in central Switzerland. Read More…

Living simply - with fewer resources

(08.04.2014) The Alps are coming under increasing pressure with developments such as the energy transition, the growth of tourism and urban sprawl. But we can offset the limited nature of their natural resources with the help of cultural resources – changing our values to focus more closely on an environmentally-friendly way of life. What this entails is the subject of CIPRA’s 2013 Annual Report. Read More…

...Oh!

… The skiers must be able to swish over gleaming white snow, the ice skaters must glide across brilliant white ice and the biathletes shoot through deep white snow drifts. The Winter Olympic Games in Switzerland must be absolutely snow-white. Read More…

Communicating ecological connectivity to stakeholders made easy

What significance do water management, tourism and agriculture have for ecological networks? Can measures in the transport sector have a positive effect for ecological corridors? How shall I design my garden to be a habitat for domestic plants and animals? These questions are answered by a series of eleven fact sheets provided by the Ecological Continuum Initiative. Read More…

Municipal network for nature protection

Nature knows no bounds. Therefore, 25 members of the “Alliance in the Alps” network of municipalities are now working together to ensure greater biodiversity and quality of life. Below is a summary of the aims of the international dynAlp-nature projects. Read More…

Point of view: Second homes – no end in sight

By voting “Yes” in 2012 in the referendum “No to the unrestricted building of second homes”, Swiss voters expressed their desire for new tourism policies. Dominik Siegrist, President of CIPRA International, expresses doubt that the population’s demand canactually be implemented. Read More…

Young voices, new perspectives for the Alps

How do things stand with youth participation in the Alps? Where is action needed? A CIPRA report summarises the situation in the Alpine countries and shows the way forward. CIPRA has already taken a first step by creating a youth advisory council. Read More…

Olympics-free Alps!

Open letter to Thomas Bach, IOC President Schaan/LI, 25 February 2014 Read More…