Political positions of CIPRA

Water — Oct 07, 2021

Hydropower in the Alps

How much hydropower use is environmentally compatible and ecologically sustainable? This question has been on the minds of people in the Alpine region for decades - all the more so against the backdrop of the urgent need to move away from fossil fuels. There are currently around 21,000 hydropower plants in operation in Europe, 300 under construction and over 8,500 in the planning stage. In many places, climate change with its imponderables such as extreme floods is being countered with more dams and walls, although river widening, for example, would make more ecological sense.

Alpine Politics — Dec 11, 2020

Alpine landscape is not renewable!

Landscape is a key to negotiating social and political issues. CIPRA has taken up these issues as part of its Alpine-wide priority theme “Landscape” 2019-2020. This position paper, which was developed in a broad and participatory process with CIPRA representatives, young Alpine women and experts from all Alpine countries, is the conclusion of this priority theme.

Alpine Politics — Feb 08, 2017

Solstice in winter tourism

Tourism has brought wealth to the Alps. In many regions it remains an important source of income, but lack of economic diversification is also a risk. The importance and orientation of tourism differs strongly among Alpine countries, but all of them need new strategies and approaches to cope with shifts in visitor behaviour and climate change. A socio-economic transformation is needed that takes account of tourism’s past, present and future potential.

News on Alpine Politics

Italy to chair Alpine Convention in 2025

Alpine Politics — Jan 27, 2025

Sophie V. Mahlknecht, CIPRA International

Italy to chair Alpine Convention in 2025

Italy is preparing to chair the Alpine Convention for the period 2025-2026, while Liechtenstein and Austria will co-chair the EU Strategy for the Alpine Region (EUSALP) in 2025. Sustainability and cross-border cooperation are the focus of both initiatives.

Alpine Politics — Oct 09, 2024

Michael Gams, CIPRA International

The battle for Alpine water

A revival of the hydropower boom: 70 years ago, many Alpine rivers were dammed for the benefit of power stations, while valuable high valleys were built over. Today, new requirements are threatening their ecological functions. In view of the dwindling glaciers and increasing utilisation demands, a distribution battle is looming.

Alpine Politics — Oct 09, 2024

Sophie V. Mahlknecht, CIPRA International

Protecting Alpine biodiversity

In September 2024, CIPRA launched two innovative Interreg projects: LiveAlpsNature and AlpsLife. These projects are helping to protect biodiversity in the Alps and meet the growing challenges posed by the climate crisis and intensive tourism.

Point of view: Let’s prioritise youth over tourism

Alpine Politics — Oct 09, 2024

Dijana Čataković

Point of view: Let’s prioritise youth over tourism

We want young people to stay on the land, but the demands of tourism, high property prices and the landscape as an object of speculation make this difficult. We talk about the fight against the climate and biodiversity crisis, all while shopping centres and business parks are being built in the countryside. Environmental protection and solutions to the housing crisis should be prioritised, as this would also be in the interests of young people, says Dijana Čataković from CIPRA Slovenia. She asks: Who else will be able to live in the Alps and afford to live there?

Point of view of CIPRA

CIPRA's point of view: Torino 2006: a hard lesson - but nothing learned

Spatial development — Aug 21, 2012

alpMedia

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?

CIPRA's point of view: New solidarity between the Alps and metropolitan areas

Spatial development — May 30, 2012

alpMedia

CIPRA's point of view: New solidarity between the Alps and metropolitan areas

Various political actors are pushing for the development of a macro-region for the Alps. CIPRA also says yes to an Alpine macro-region - but only within a clear framework. This offers the opportunity to make the rest of Europe aware of the issues facing its Alpine regions.

CIPRA's point of view: Alpine Convention: Italy says yes but Switzerland still says no

Mobility & Transport — May 30, 2012

alpMedia

CIPRA's point of view: Alpine Convention: Italy says yes but Switzerland still says no

Italy, surprisingly, has ratified eight of nine protocols of the Alpine Convention. Only Switzerland has yet to sign up. We do not need the protocols, stated the Swiss Federal Council recently - Swiss policy is, in its view, more sustainable than in any other Alpine country.