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Hut transport: mules as an alternative

For centuries, mules and horses have transported goods in mountainous regions. What used to be the only means of transport has nowadays mostly been replaced by helicopter. A nature park in Piedmont, Italy, is now organising the delivery of goods to mountain huts by mule, while environmentally friendly alternatives to helicopters are also being tested elsewhere.

Living mountain forests

Climate protector and habitat, recreational area and timber supplier: forests have many functions, both in the natural ecosystem and for humans. CIPRA Slovenia's “GozdNega / Forest Care” project aims to convince forest owners of the benefits of climate-friendly management.

Climate change: Merano’s strategy for a better quality of life

Trees instead of parking spaces and support for the population during hot spells – with a total of 19 measures like these, the city of Merano/I is countering the effects of climate change. Experts, interest groups and young people have worked together to develop the strategy.

What can we learn from the coronavirus crisis?

In the Alps, too, the question now arises as to what will happen after the corona crisis. As part of its development of new projects, CIPRA conducted a survey to gain an impression of the current mood.

Point of view: The mountains, a safe place

During the lockdown due to the corona pandemic, mountain areas have gained in importance as places of retreat. In order to be able to fulfil this role better in the future, they must be strengthened and digitally networked, demands Vanda Bonardo, President of CIPRA Italy.

Talking about the climate – but how?

Personal, visual, social: this is how we communicate the climate crisis more effectively. Around 250 people discussed language, psychology and social media in the online conference “Tell stories, prick up your ears, make contacts”.

Location policy at the expense of the environment

Slovenia’s government wants to restrict the right of civil society to have a say in controversial construction projects. Other Alpine countries are also pursuing location policies at the expense of the environment.

Vision Velo Alpina: a cycle path through the Alps

The Alpe-Adria cycle path or the Eurovelo routes: in the Alps there already exist cross-border long-distance cycle paths, but there is not yet a route through all the Alpine countries. A project to test the feasibility of a Velo Alpina wants to change this.

Eurovignette Directive: Renewed postponement at the expense of climate protection and population

The treatment of the Eurovignette Directive by the transport ministers of the EU states is postponed until 28th of September. The International Commission for the Protection of the Alps (CIPRA) is worried about the renewed delay and fears the dilution of a central concern of the EU Commission and Parliament, at the expense of climate protection and the population living along the motorways.

Relieving the burden on transit-plagued Alpine regions

Representatives of the national transport ministries are currently discussing the strengthening of the infrastructure costs directive (Eurovignette Directive). Together with environmental organisations, CIPRA is calling for a substantial improvement in legislation to relieve the burden on the population in transit-stricken Alpine regions.

A Matter of the Head: Our Image of Climate Protection

Climate change, climate crisis, climate emergency: how do we find the right words to talk about global warming? At the online conference of the Alpine Partnership for Local Climate Action on 30 June and 1 July 2020, the focus will be on communication about climate protection.

One ticket, seven countries, 48 regions

AlpTick, one ticket for all public transportation in the entire Alpine region – this is the vision of the CIPRA Youth Council (CYC). Young people are invited to take part in a survey on mobility in the Alps.

More Alpine protection against transit traffic

The transport ministries of the EU countries will negotiate more binding rules for transit traffic at the beginning of June 2020. CIPRA representatives from all the Alpine countries are calling for an improvement in the European infrastructure costs directive for truck transport.

The Eurovignette Directive

CIPRA demands to national transport and environment ministers

Nomination of 28 sustainable renovations and new buildings

The jury of the "Constructive Alps" architecture competition will decide by autumn which projects are to be awarded prizes. And the public will also be able to judge the projects: for the first time, there will be an award for the public favourite.

New faces at CIPRA

Vanda Bonardo is the new President of CIPRA Italy, with changes too to the Executive Board. There has also been a change on the Executive Board of CIPRA Austria.

More sustainable living thanks to corona?

Pop-up cycle paths in cities, an organic food boom – corona promotes the trend towards more sustainable lifestyles in the Alpine countries as well. A trend that may be here to stay.

Open letter on transit traffic: CIPRA demands toll increase

AlpTick

Having one ticket for all public transportation in the entire Alpine region – this is our vision. The Alpine Ticket (AlpTick) makes travelling in the Alps easier, more sustainable and more attractive for young people. It is an idea developed by the CIPRA Youth Council (CYC) based on its members’ experiences of travelling on public transport in the Alps.

Digital and creative: climate strike despite Corona

Global #digitalstrike, climate strike in Switzerland, climate corona deal in Austria, mailbombing in Italy: how climate activists in Alpine countries deal with the initial restrictions and what they take away from the corona crisis.

Via Alpina: 20 years of long-distance hiking

For 20 years, the cross-border long-distance hiking trail known as the “Via Alpina” has connected all eight Alpine countries from Trieste to Monaco. It connects people, living spaces and natural areas along five routes, not only physically but also symbolically.

Focus: transit

The strain placed on people and nature by transit traffic in the narrow Alpine valleys is a running sore in European transport policy, and not only at the Brenner Pass. This is nonetheless today’s hotspot for dramatically increasing truck traffic and air pollution, with the population plagued by permanent traffic jams and noise pollution, in part also caused by ever more freight trains.

Strange but true…

The landscape that moves CIPRA

From a Slovenian mountain pass, via a dying glacier in Switzerland, to a French shepherd's path: in its Annual Report 2019 CIPRA International shows how landscapes and their stories move people.

Point of view: A building plan for a resilient society

The corona crisis has broken our lives into pieces: relationships, working models, leisure and consumerism are loose building blocks. It is still unclear how we will reassemble them. We now have the chance to draw up a new building plan that is fit for the future, says Barbara Wülser, Co-Executive Director of CIPRA International.

Point of view: Water needs no borders – do we?

So far, sufficient water is available in the Alpine regions. If there is to be enough for everyone in the future, despite climate change, water must be treated as a common Alpine resource across national borders, says Marion Ebster, Project Manager at CIPRA International.

Tourism after the ski lift

Milder and milder winters are forcing ski resorts to invest in expensive snowmaking and lift facilities – an arms race in which many are no longer able to compete. Some places in the Alps have already found alternatives to skiing.

Bees: small in size, big in effect

Why we need honey, pollinators and biodiversity: This question is the subject of the themed issue of SzeneAlpen, to be published in March 2020.

Re.sources

[Project completed] Water, soil, bees, ideas, motivation, time: the Alps contain a wide range of resources. A large part of the natural capital is under threat, while the social potential for more sustainable solutions still slumbers in many places. What are my resources and what are yours? Which ones are in danger and which ones are our lives dependent on? What resources does it take to make a change towards sustainable development in the Alps?

AMIGO - Active Commuter Mobility

[Project completed] Reducing cross-border car traffic and focusing more on active mobility: these are the aims of the Interreg project "Amigo".