Switzerland
News, publications, press releases, positions... on this page you find current and alpine-relevant information from Switzerland.
Sunny Hills of Istria, a sustainable living culture
A little ecovillage community in slovenian istria which is not only speaking about sustainability and regenerative lifestyle, but living it through four dimensions of sustainability and permaculture (ecological, economical, social and cultural). Read More…
Climate-friendly streetscapes
Whether travelling by car, public transport, bicycle or on foot, roads and their immediate surroundings are probably the most important part of our daily journeys. Against the backdrop of the climate crisis, they can become a problem because they increase the heat island effect and seal the ground. The project, based in the Alpine Rhine Valley, aims to make road spaces fair, climate-friendly and health-promoting. Read More…
Nature-based solutions and their governance structures in the Alpine region
In view of the global challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss, the use of nature-based solutions (NbS) is becoming increasingly important. On behalf of the German Federal Environment Agency, ifuplan (lead) and CIPRA International are preparing a report on “Nature-based solutions and governance structures in the Alpine region”. The aim of the report is to analyse the potential of various NbS in the Alpine region and the governance mechanisms behind them that ensure their success. Based on this, their transferability to other Alpine regions will be analysed and recommendations for action formulated. Read More…
Webinar series on cross-border mobility
The webinar series on cross-border mobility and European strategies and grants for mobility solutions aimed to strengthen the common understanding and European approach to local mobility solutions. The workshops were open to all stakeholders interested in these topics and provided a platform for exchange and cooperation. Read More…
A delegation from Chartreuse visits Bad Hindelang to discuss mobility in Alpine areas
As part of the European ERASMUS+ project "DINAMO - Developing International Nature Adapted Mobility Options", CIPRA Germany and CIPRA France organised exchange study visits between two pilot territories : the Chartreuse massif in France (represented by the regional natural park and the local authority "Coeur de Chartreuse") and the municipality of Bad Hindelang in Germany. Read More…
Record run along the renewed Via Alpina
Across the Alps on foot: British endurance athlete Jake Catterall covered more than 2,000 kilometres and 100,000 metres in altitude in just 35 days. He ran the renewed red route of the Via Alpina in record time - he started in Trieste/I on 8 July 2024 and reached Monaco on 12 August. Read More…
DINAMO Erasmus+ project: a new white paper on mountain mobility
The "DINAMO" project aims to address the challenges of rural mountain mobility by encouraging cooperation between different stakeholders and stimulating creative processes through international exchanges. The main objective is to promote sustainable mobility solutions in rural mountain areas, to help them become less dependent on individual car transport. Read More…
Learning about Alpine cross-mobility in the DINAMO Erasmus+ project webinars
As part of the European ERASMUS+ project "DINAMO - Developing International Nature Adapted Mobility Options", CIPRA Germany and CIPRA France organised two webinars on the topic of cross-border mobility and Alpine mobility strategies in June and July 2024. Read More…
DINAMO Erasmus+ project: the return trip from Bad Hindelang to Chartreuse
As part of the European ERASMUS+ project "DINAMO - Developing International Nature Adapted Mobility Options", CIPRA Germany and CIPRA France organised exchange study visits between two pilot territories : the Chartreuse massif in France (represented by the regional natural park and the local authority "Coeur de Chartreuse") and the municipality of Bad Hindelang in Germany. Read More…
From devastated forest to an art platform
In just a few minutes, the storm destroyed large parts of a centuries-old forest. We reflect on the consequences of climate change. Read More…
Scientific tourism on the mountain
Raising tourists’ awareness about climate change through science: the Lautaret Alpine Garden, located right in the heart of the Ecrins National Park in France, features alpine plants from all over the world. Read More…
"Run the change" on the Via Alpina
British trail runner Jake Catterall is on course for a record: starting in Trieste, Italy, he has been running along the Via Alpina across the Alps to Monaco since 8 July 2024. The long-distance hiking trail across the Alps, which is organised by CIPRA, also runs through Liechtenstein, where the endurance athlete has now made a stopover. Read More…
Alpine huts: the first victims of the climate crisis?
Water shortages, disintegrating mountains and renovation needs: managing Alpine huts has always been difficult, but the climate crisis is making the situation even worse. The Austrian Alpine Association has already issued an “Emergency call from the Alps”. Read More…
20,000 climate-friendly kilometres
At the end of June 2024, 35 young people – previously unknown to each other – met in Slovenia. They were part of the Yoalin project, in which 105 (out of over 2,200 applicants) are travelling the Alps this summer in a climate-friendly way using an Interrail ticket. Read More…
AlpWeek 2024 in Nova Gorica
Two decades ago, “AlpWeek” was held for the first time in Slovenia as an international event organised by Alpine organisations. It will return there from 23 to 25 September 2024. Read More…
Young people’s demands for a good life in the Alps
Environmental protection, car-free mobility and better work-life balance: these were the political demands of young people from Germany, France, Slovenia and Liechtenstein at the end of the CIPRA “Alpine Compass” project. Read More…
Young people’s demands for a good life in the Alps
Environmental protection, car-free mobility and better work-life balance: these were the political demands of young people from Germany, France, Slovenia and Liechtenstein at the end of the CIPRA “Alpine Compass” project. Read More…
Point of view: Let’s break up (the ground)!
Instead of continuing to build on large areas of the ground beneath our feet, we should unseal it wherever possible and do ourselves a favour, says Marion Ebster. She runs the Ground:breaking project – which includes an Alpine-wide unsealing competition. Read More…
Sustainable traffic management, not lawsuits
CIPRA representatives along the transport axis over the Brenner Pass are calling for sustainable traffic management instead of populist grievances. Now Switzerland is facing a renewed increase in traffic. Read More…
Healthy Alps, healthy people
What risks and side effects does the climate crisis have for our health? How can we best treat the symptoms? These are the questions explored in AlpsInsight no. 111, published in June 2024. Read More…
Green light for Nature Restoration in the EU
The majority of EU environment ministers voted in favour of the Nature Restoration Law on 17 June 2024. The decisive factor was the courageous and foresighted last-minute approval by Austria's Environment Minister. Read More…
Dossier Quality of life and young in the Alps the case of Slovenia, Germany and France
Between January 2023 and May 2024, CIPRA Slovenia was together with CIPRA Germany, CIPRA France, and CIPRA International working on researching the topic of quality of life for young people in the Alps. With the support from ERASMUS+, a Dossier, which is part of the project Alpine Compass: Youth for the quality of life in the Alps, was created. Read More…
International training on inclusion and sustainability in mountain regions
Between May 27th and 31st, over 30 people from the Alpine region gathered in Wildhaus/CH to attend the training within the project »Via Alpina Youth«. The aim was to explore and discuss the potential of mountain and nature experiences within the work with young people. The workshop was organised by CIPRA Switzerland and CIPRA International. Read More…
Ars vivendi
[Project completed] How can the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) be learned and taught? In the project «ars vivendi» a didactic tool for the Global Agenda 2030 is being developed. Read More…
DINAMO
[Project competed] In many rural areas of the Alps, public transport services are inadequate for daily needs and tourism development. In some remote mountain regions, this is one of the reasons why there is a considerable amount of car traffic, especially on weekends, public holidays and during rush hours. There are various reasons for this, including the high cost of public transport solutions due to low population density, inadequate public transport options (such as timetables, accessibility, connectivity, travel time and costs) and political and social preferences in favour of private motorised transport. Read More…
A management model for Jelovica
Restoring a damaged forest and other good practices: The JeloviZa project implemented a management model for a sensible natural area in Slovenia. Read More…
After the flood
What role could biosphere reserves play in dealing with climate risks? This was the subject of an international workshop organised by the MultiBios project in Bad Kleinkirchheim/A at the beginning of April 2024, which included a site visit to the Gegendtal valley that was affected by heavy rainfall and flooding two years ago. Read More…
Point of view: European elections 2024: why a Swiss citizen would also like to vote
Switzerland’s referendum-based democracy has pitfalls of its own when it comes to environmental and climate policy. There needs to be an overarching corrective, such as neighbouring countries have in their constitutional courts and through the legal institutions of the EU, says Kaspar Schuler – as a Swiss citizen and Executive Director of CIPRA International. Read More…
Excessive consumption of resources
The Alpine countries are living at the expense of future generations: if everyone lived like those living in the Alpine region, the available resources for this year would be used up by May 2024. Read More…
Toxic chemicals - even in ski resorts
Anoraks, climbing ropes, ski wax: many outdoor products contain persistent chemicals (PFAS). A recent study shows their worldwide distribution, with ski resorts in the Alps particularly affected. Read More…
