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cc.alps: CIPRA demands on transport

Transport, in particular by car and truck, is one of the main causes of climate change. In the Alpine countries transport accounts for more than 25 percent of the release of greenhouse gases and is of special importance in the increase of these gases since 1990. A wrong development, running counter to the political objective to reduce exhaust emissions. In the Alps, the percentage of journeys made by car is higher than European average.

The Alpine Convention has no answer to climate change

At the 10th Alpine Conference held in Evian/F the Alpine states today debated a common approach to climate change. They were unable however to agree on a climate action plan for the Alpine region that is worthy of the name. Besides general formulations the climate action plan finally adopted by the Conference does contain a few concrete measures - thanks not least to pressure from CIPRA. However these measures are far too tentative to genuinely take climate protection in the Alps forward.

Evaluation of approaches for designing and implementing ecological networks in the Alps

Film festival in the alps

cc.alps: CIPRA Demands on Nature Protection

When climate changes, nature feels it. Mountain areas are particularly sensitive, and the greatest losses in terms of plant and animal species may occur precisely there. According to scientific estimates, almost every second plant species in the Alps is threatened with extinc-tion by 2100. For the flora with the highest number of varieties in Central Europe this would be an enormous loss. Because of global warming, also well-known animal species such as the Alpine ibex, the snow grouse and the mountain hare will experience far worse living con-ditions in the Alps.

cc.alps: CIPRA Demands on Energy

In order to limit global warming, first of all it is important that we use energy more efficiently. Yet this will not be enough for operating in a way that climate can sustain. We must radically change our energy consumption and our consumption of energy-intensive goods and services. Experience shows that consumption only goes down when clear political signals are sent - which include legislative initiatives, rewarding energy saving and punishing waste. The switch from fossil to renewable energies must be forced - but not to the detriment of nature. Biomass production, the installation of wind power turbines and new hydroelectric power stations in the Alps hide many potential conflicts. The environmental, social and economic consequences of climate projects must be carefully assessed and compared.

Climate check-up for the Alps

What sort of impact and side effects do climate response measures have? CIPRA's latest issue of AlpsInsight entitled In the Name of Climate Protection looks at how climate change issues are being addressed in the Alps and points the way towards sustainable action.

Toxic glacier melts

A new study has confirmed that melting glaciers release chemical substances that have long been banned and are not longer produced by industry. Researchers from Swiss education institutes took frozen sediment core samples from the Oberaar reservoir in the Grimsel area in Switzerland and used the layers to reconstruct the history of the lake back to when it was first established in 1953.

Alpine Convention acts as a guide for the Dinaric Alps

CIPRA Slovenia has successfully completed its project entitled "Knowledge transfer in the area of sustainable development from the Alpine Convention to the municipality of Mojkovac in Montenegro". The project provides a good starting point for the comprehensive promotion of nature conservation and sustainable development in the Dinaric mountain range.

The 2009 Climate Winners

The winning municipalities of the 2009 Climate Star were presented with their awards in Melk in Lower Austria on October 22, under the motto of "Fast Track to Climate Protection". The proud winners from the Alpine region were the local authorities of Lustenau in Austria and Sand in Taufers in South Tyrol/I. The record participation of 444 municipalities from eleven European countries, with a very strong showing by local authorities in the Alps, highlights the importance now attached to climate protection.

EEA Report No 8/2009

Catalogue of connectivity measures: new publication in English, French, German and Italian

The Continuum Project just published online a catalogue of possible measures for improving ecological connectivity in English, French, German and Italian language.

Large carnivores in the Alps and Carpathians: Living with the wildlife

Regional climate change and adaptation

New ideas for life in the Alps in the post-fossil age

Last week's annual CIPRA conference on the subject of growth attracted some 200 attendees to Liechtenstein. There was a consensus that our limited resources mean that growth is finite. Numerous ideas were offered and calls made for a response to the inevitable downsizing process. CIPRA summarised the most urgent calls in a catalogue of ideas.

The Alpine Convention in small bites

"The Alpine Convention in Small Bites" is the name of a new page on the website operated by the Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention, which provides short summaries of the main contents of the Alpine Convention.

Report on the water resources of the Alps and climate change

An English-language report on the water household of the Alps in times of climate change was recently published under the title "Regional Climate Change and Adaptation - The Alps Facing the Challenge of Changing Water Resources". The authors consider specific options for adaptation to changes in the availability of water in the Alpine region, including the keys to success and the obstacles to be overcome.

Beacons of energy-efficient construction in the mountains

The summer of 2009 saw the opening of the first mountain chalet to be built to the Minergy-P standard. Located in the ski area of Zermatt/CH at an altitude of 3,883 metres, the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise is a model of ecological construction at the foot of the Klein Matterhorn.

New ALPARC brochure available

"Large Carnivores in the Alps and Carpathians: Living with the Wildlife" is a recently published brochure containing the results of the conference on large carnivores held in Slovakia at the beginning of July.

Abondance Ski Area reopened

In the last few years, lack of snow was a major problem for the ski area in Abondance/F, which is located at 1500 m above sea-level. Because of poor snow conditions, the lifts did not open at all in the last two winter seasons.

Latest edition of the Journal of Alpine Research now available online

The latest edition of the international and multidisciplinary "Journal of Alpine Research" is now available online under the title "Mountain Regions as Referents for Collective Action".

Mountain film festivals at a glance

A good overview of the main mountain film festivals in the Alps is provided by a new brochure on "Mountain Film Festivals in the Alps" published by the Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention.

Ecological Networks implemented by participatory approaches as a response to landscape fragmentation: a review of German literature

Making the connection!

Long-term dynamics of a fragmented rainforest mammal assemblage

New publication: Mountain Biodiversity and Climate Change

On the basis of papers presented at the International Mountain Biodiversity Conference held in Kathmandu/NP in November 2008, the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) has published a brochure on biodiversity in mountain landscapes and climate change.

Mountain hike for climate protection

On 15 August 2009, some seventy hikers went up to the Goldbergkees glacier on the Hoher Sonnblick in Salzburg/A to draw attention to the impacts of global climate change.

Recommendations of NGOs and mountain populations to governments and the European Union

Manual on Sport and the Environment

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