Articles
Climate action plan of Bressanone
With beginning of 2013 the city of Bressanone (20.000 inhabitants, located northern Italy in the Alps) will issue its climate action plan.
Vulnerability to energy expenditure of tenants of the public housing office of the department of Isère (France)
The activities of the action program include the determination of the main factors of energy vulnerability of inhabitants, the most efficient actions to reduce it and then implement refurbishment. The targets are to reduce greenhouse gases emissions and to reduce economic vulnerability of inhabitants. The work is conducted with employees of OPAC 38, and is linked to the Agenda 21.
Ski resorts: how to reduce energy consumption of mechanical equipments ?
Since few dozen of years, as a common reorientation of the global economic sectors in the Alps, tourism took more and more importance in comparison to the others (agriculture, industry,…). In the Pays SUD (Serre Ponçon Ubaye Durance, France): 80% of employees are linked to tourism, and mainly to the winter ski activities.
Valtellina Valley toward carbon neutrality by 2050
Considering its typically alpine features, FLA identified Valtellina Valley as the ideal region where to cultivate the goal of carbon neutrality by 2050. Starting from a preliminary analysis to identify the most critical sectors in terms of carbon emissions, FLA undertook two pilot actions relating to transport and energy issues.
Next generation to bear risk of Winter Olympics
The Swiss canton of Graubünden wants to hold a "sustainable" Winter Olympics in 2022. While the many open questions regarding the candidacy have stirred passions in Switzerland, Munich's candidacy is not quite so controversial. But time is pressing.
CIPRA's point of view:Italian French Summit: modal shift gets red light
The summit meeting last week between Italian leader Mario Monti and French president François Hollande covered plenty of ground - except for a rapid and effective modal shift from road to rail.
alpMedia turns ten
My editor always says that the word "I" has no place in a news text. But today it's my birthday so it's my turn to talk!
New Secretary-General for the Alpine Convention
The Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention is getting a new head. In March 2013 the Austrian Markus Reiterer, diplomat and Alpine enthusiast, will replace the previous Secretary-General Marco Onida.
Liechtenstein is Europe's top energy country
All of Liechtenstein's municipalities have now been presented with the European Energy Award. The honour of being Europe's top energy country is a reason to celebrate - and a call for an effective climate policy.
An Alpine "arms race": the desire for fun and games
Europe's highest suspension bridge is being opened in Switzerland, while an Austrian peak is getting a four-armed cross that is accessible to visitors - unbelievable adventures in the Alps.
Out for gigantic Brenner wind farm
It was supposed to have been the highest wind farm in the Alps. Now a court has revoked the building permit for the wind turbines on the Sattelberg Mountain - referring also to the Alpine Convention in the grounds for its decision.
Climate change: cc.alps looked many steps further
With the recently published compact "Water in climate change" the project "cc.alps - climate change: looking one step further" has come to an end. In the last four years, CIPRA International together with a wide range of experts and practitioners has shown what intelligent climate activities should look like.
MountEE Project starts: sustainable public construction in Europe
Municipalities have a duty to act as models, especially as regards construction and renovation work. The MountEE Project makes it possible for municipalities in five European mountain regions to optimise their construction and renovation strategies.
Wolves: France wants to shoot them while Switzerland celebrates new-borns
In Switzerland they are celebrating the first new generation of wolves. But where should these wolves go? A national park in the south of France has initiated a debate on this topic - with consequences for the Alps.
National park under discussion
The Vanoise National Park in Savoy has a new charter. Representatives from the worlds of politics, economics and civil society have been working on it for over five years. Environmental groups have given it their support, but criticise its limited impact. The municipalities are nevertheless reluctant to sign up to it.
CIPRA's point of view: Alpine Convention must produce results
The renewal of the Alps needs youth. This was recognised by AlpWeek. The parties to the Alpine Convention are now being challenged to follow up their words with deeds - including as regards the energy question.
Olympic candidacy - a questionable venture?
Forecasts estimate that the 2022 Winter Olympics in Switzerland will cost 4.5 billion Swiss francs - or, as experience shows, even more. Is it worth it? In March 2013 the citizens of Graubünden will go to the polls to decide.
The northern bald ibis - welcome back to the wild!
Jazu is back. Last autumn he became the first wild northern bald ibis for 400 years to leave his breeding ground near Burghausen, Bavaria: in summer he found his own way back from Tuscany.
Connectivity video clip for mayors
Municipalities can collaborate in the improvement of ecological networks in many different ways. Therefore CIPRA wants to convince mayors for this topic with the help of a video clip.
Connectivity analysis for cross-border areas in the Alps
Which cross-border areas between Alpine countries are most relevant for further connectivity activities? To answer this question the Platform Ecological Network of the Alpine Convention has contracted an analysis.
Indicators on evaluating the progress of the Alpine ecological network
The establishment of the Alpine Ecological Network is a long process. In order to evaluate the progress, the Platform Ecological Network of the Alpine Convention has developed a set of indicators.
Econnect's drive living on in recharge.green
Ecological connectivity in the Alps can only be maintained if the production of renewable energy is managed in line with nature protection. Some of the Econnect partners seized the opportunity given by the last call of the Alpine Space Programme to work out a project on this issue. They were successful and "recharge.green" is about to start on 1st October.
Northeast Asia inspired by the Alpine Ecological Network
In South Korea, China and Japan activities have been started in favour of ecological connectivity. The major protected areas of these countries, the Ministry for environment of South Korea and other key stakeholders have been convinced by the importance of connected habitats thanks to the successful initiatives in the Alps.
The French ecological network becomes regional
The main aim of the French "Green and Blue Infrastructure" ("Trame Verte et Bleue" - TVB) is to stop biodiversity loss. The ecological network is in addition a powerful tool for spatial planning. The two Alpine regions Rhône-Alpes and Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur have started to set up this new planning tool.
Financial boost to Bavaria's Ecological Network
2 million Euro will help to further develop the ecological network in Bavaria, "BayernNetzNatur". The environment Ministry gives this additional funding to at least one new nature protection project in each of Bavaria's seven provinces for 2013 and 2014.
CIPRA's point of view: Torino 2006: a hard lesson - but nothing learned
The Olympic Winter Games 2006 have left a burdensome legacy. The idea is thus to close the loss-making bobsleigh and replace it with an indoor ski slope. Is Turin simply throwing good money after bad?
Bavaria: Alpine Convention makes court appearance
The constitutional court of Bavaria has received a complaint against the classification of land for development demanding, for the first time, compliance with the Alpine Convention. The court ruling could significantly change how the Alps are protected in Bavaria.
Winter tourism: lateral thinking in Savoy
The skiing area of Biot/F sees ever less snow, and the resort is deep in debt. The local mayor now wants to get rid of the lifts and develop other forms of tourism. A visionary decision in the western Alps.
Joint action on climate change
The forests of the Alps will only be able to cope with climate change if the findings from all the various specialist fields are pooled together. And that requires new forms of co-operation and communication.
Knowing how to shape the climate
Climate protection is possible. It's just that lots of people don't know how to go about it. CIPRA is demonstrating how we can protect the climate and save money at the same time. The whole idea is being trialled in two pilot regions in the Alps