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Point of view: Change begins in the heart

Claire Simon, Executive Director of CIPRA International, used the occasion of the 2015 CIPRA annual conference to call for more engagement with people and their ways of thinking in order to strengthen the natural and cultural diversity of the Alps.

Crying wolf?

The protected status of the wolf is being ever more vehemently called into question. French sheep farmers have fuelled the debate further by taking hostages. Those living in the mountains meanwhile remain divided.

Appeal: Climate change mitigation now!

An appeal from the Alpine municipalities and their inhabitants to the participants of COP 21

A Sustainable Life - Wolfgang E. Burhenne and the development of environmental law

Wolfgang Burhenne is a most renowned and highly honoured personality in environmental law worldwide. International instruments such as the African Convention on the Conservation of Nature, the World Charter for Nature, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and others are rooted in his ideas, engagement and professional input. This book shows how passion and talent in a person combined with life experiences and circumstances in society and politics to shape a unique life. In the case of Burhenne, his life achievements benefit us all, as well as future generations.

Helping ecosystems in Europe to adapt to climate change

This report summarises much of the work done by, and for, the Climate Change Group of the European Network of Heads of Nature Conservation Agencies (ENCA) between 2011 and 2013. The ENCA Climate Change Group is made up of experts in climate change and ecology from government conservation agencies across Europe.

alpMonitor

[Project completed] Sustainable development is not simply limited to nature protection. As a guiding idea that touches virtually all areas of life, sustainability should be discussed at every lunch, every workshop, schoolroom or parliament. Through the project alpMonitor, CIPRA International, together with the national CIPRA branches, strongly focuses on the responsibilities modern societies have in the shift towards sustainable development. The actual objective is «the good life» in the Alps. CIPRA’s approach is based upon the values of participation, solidarity and frugality.

Outputs

Sustainable building from the Arctic circle to the Mediterranean

Attractive public buildings, built of wood and stone to passive house standards: this is how the schools and community centres of the future will look. With its 35 pilot buildings the MountEE project is putting sustainable building into practice in different climate zones.

Victory for landscape protection

The controversial application to build a wind farm on the Sattelberg near the Brenner Pass was rejected in a final appeal heard by the Italian Council of State in Rome.

New models for a better life

The western economic model consumes the natural resources of three planet Earths. And it is spreading to developing countries – we are their role model.

Reducing road traffic is a long distance race

We face many problems relating to excess traffic, especially in cities. It causes air pollution and noise, and hampers land use.

Working together for the future of the Alps

In terms of policymaking for the Alps, 2014 was an eventful year. The stage was set for the development of a macro-regional Alpine strategy to find transnational solutions to problems encountered throughout the Alpine space and develop innovative projects specifically targeted at the Alps, and progress was made in defining the terms of reference.

Sustainable transport policy for an improved quality of life

On Liechtenstein’s doorstep, in the Austrian town of Feldkirch, the planning process is currently underway for a gigantic road construction project in the form of the Feldkirch Urban Tunnel.

How much protection for protected areas?

The Alps are a bastion of biodiversity, a function that will become even more important in the future as rising temperatures endanger the survival of many species at lower altitudes.

New format, new content

In 2014, CIPRA Italy created a new format for work on its territory: a Development Workshop for the Alps.

AlpStore Projects - Case Studies

In AlpStore, 19 partners from all 7 Alpine countries investigated the short, medium and long term requirements for both stationary and mobile energy storages. They tested storages that need to be available all the time as well as others such as the batteries of electric vehicles, which may be disconnected from the power grid for a while. They used a wide range of technologies, such as biogas and hydrogen. They tested second life batteries and developed communication strategies and actively involved local citizens. This set of 12 case studies shall give an insight in the technologies, their availability and potential use cases. Partners of the local pilot applications share their findings, results and experiences. That shall allow a broad range of practitioners and planners to gain better understanding of how energy storage systems work and how they can help secure the prosperity of the Alpine Space.

White Book - Smart Storage and Mobility (STORM)

The Whitebook builds on the results of Alp-Store at about half time of the project. At the time of its publication AlpStore partners are in the midst of their research and deployment activities. Final guidelines of the project will be published in early 2015. They will describe the ultimate findings and give guidance to local and regional authorities, regional energy utilities and Investors. Nonetheless, it is worthwhile to use the information given in this Whitebook to structure the discussion process. Moreover, chapter 9.3 contains “Short-term non-regret options for players in Alpine regions”.

Smart Storage and Mobility - Guidelines for Regional Decision Makers

In AlpStore, 19 partners from all 7 Alpine countries investigated the short, medium and long term requirements for both stationary and mobile energy storage. They tested storage that needs to be available all the time as well as others such as the batteries of electric vehicles, which may be disconnected from the power grid for a while. They used a wide range of technologies, such as biogas and hydrogen. They tested second life batteries and developed communication strategies and actively involved local citizens. Now, it is time to share their findings, results and experiences from the implemented pilot applications to contribute to a better understanding of how storage works and how they can help secure the prosperity of the Alpine Space.

Connecting Mountains, people, nature - shaping the framework for an efficient european biodiversity policy for the alps

How successful are biodiversity policies, strategies and projects at connecting humans and nature in the Alps? The greenAlps project surveyed how efficient and effective nature conservation instruments are from the European to the municipal level. Our ultimate goal is to stimulate pro-nature governance change in Alpine countries.

Staking a claim for nature - Policy recommendations for the alpine space

The policy recommendations in this document highlight some of the gaps that have to be filled and needs that have to be met in order to implement successful nature protection measures. Moreover, they underline the huge impact that political situations have on nature conservation.

Expo: Musicians crossing borders

On Sunday, 7 June 2015, the curtain will rise on 123 talented singers and musicians from Italy, France and Slovenia, some of them with special needs! Two orchestras and a women's choir from three Alpine countries will perform together for the very first time at the Expo 2015 in Milan. Their music will conquer language barriers, unite different experiences and reveal the diversity and creativity of the Alpine space.

Getting the modal shift moving

Austria gives the green light for the construction of a controversial rail tunnel. At the same time, the Swiss Federal Office for Transport has published two reports that suggest that the modal shift of goods onto rail can succeed even without large infrastructure projects.

Young voices at the Expo

Giving a voice to mountains all over the world – this is the idea behind the theme week on mountain areas being staged at the World Expo in Milan. CIPRA is there too, with brave young people and a very special concert.

Initiating change for a good life in the Alps

What does it take to ensure a good life in the Alps? What social and political changes are necessary? Answers will be provided at the annual CIPRA Conference to be held on 25 and 26 September 2015 in Ruggell, Liechtenstein.

Point of view: Making the Alpine Convention more interactive

The effectiveness of the Alpine Convention is often called into question. A new approach could help reposition it as an engine of co-operation and sustainable development in the Alpine regions, says Claire Simon, Executive Director of CIPRA International.

The real treasure of the Alps

A Swiss energy producer is to receive a prize for finding a successful compromise between the protection and use of water: while the head of the Upper Allgäu district authority has approved the building of a small power plant in a protected area over the head of his own officials. Two examples of the tension existing between conservation and the energy transition.

Energy & nature in the Alps: a balancing act. - Perpetual Calendar

This perpetual calendar explains the main project findings, in particular to decision-makers from local to Alps-wide level. It takes readers through the decision-making process that the fictional town of “Alpine Vale” goes through when discussing the potential use of renewable energy.

Energy and nature in the Alps: a balancing act

The Alps offer great potential for renewable energy production. But this simultaneously increases the pressure on nature. The partners in the international recharge.green project have found ways to ensure this balancing act succeeds. They will be presenting their results at the final conference to be held on 20-21 May 2015 in Sonthofen, Germany.

In tune with diversity - CIPRA's Annual Report 2014

Demands

The countries in the Alps must take all the necessary measures to slow down climate change. At the same time they must prepare for global warming and mitigate its consequences. Intelligent, sustainable action is essential. All programmes must be checked for sustainability: are they environmentally and socially acceptable? Are the benefits greater than the negative consequences? Climate protection is a matter of life and death for the Alps – but nothing is gained if this triggers other environmental problems. CIPRA demands actions in the key areas of energy, protection of nature, transport, building and renovation, tourism, spatial planning, agriculture, forestry, water and energy self-sufficiency at the regional level.