Dossiers
Climate change and the Alps
Globally the 1990s were the warmest decade since reliable instrument recordings began in 1860; they were very possibly also the warmest in the past one thousand years. For the Alpine countries, these latest findings are of particular significance for the hydrosphere, i.e. the hydrological cycle, and the cryosphere, i.e. snow and ice. Future winters will be characterised by less snow and more rain. Even a 1 °C increase in temperature means the average duration of the snow cover in certain regions will be reduced by 4 to 6 weeks. Hope for the future in the climate dilemma rests with municipal energy policies, the greater use of renewable energies, and the promotion of a sustainable economic approach and lifestyle. Additional relevant material on the issue can be found in other language versions of this page.
Energy-efficient houses made from timber sourced from the Alpine region
Do you actually know how much money your house is losing you by using energy inefficiently? Why not save it instead - and treat yourself to a comfortable, healthy living environment into the bargain, with plenty of sunlight within your own four walls. This Dossier is designed to help you do just that. It contains information on energy-efficient, resource-friendly construction and renovation methods and provides suggestions and advice on the use of locally sourced timber as a building material and fuel type. Besides a background report you will also find instances of good practice well worth emulating, cross-links to the relevant literature and events, and also information on the latest developments in the area of sustainable building in the Alpine region. The Dossier is the result of a project carried out in 2004 by CIPRA, the International Commission for the Protection of the Alps, on behalf of the Principality of Liechtenstein. Additional relevant material on the issue can be found in other language versions of this page.
Ecological networks in the Alpine region
In nature and species conservation a paradigm shift has started in the last few years: static nature protection in isolated protected areas is not sufficient for conserving biodiversity, but approaches are needed that take the dynamic of nature and land use change into account. This change of attitudes contributed to the establishment of the model of a functioning ecological network in the Alps, which can contribute to conserve the extraordinary rich Alpine diversity. The background report provides summary information on key instruments such as conventions, legislation, regulations and programmes relating to ecological networks at national and global level. Particular attention has been paid to information from the Alpine region. The Report also explains why ecological networks are important and how they work. Examples of international, alpine-wide, national and regional projects illustrate what different stakeholders are doing to improve the network situation. Further information on the subject in various languages can be found on www.alpine-ecological-network.org under the headings: News, Events, Information services - Publications and Links
Energy in climate change
The CIPRA compact “Energy” provides an overview on energy use and energy production in the Alps and describes national and regional strategies for climate protection and climate adaptation. Additional relevant material on the issue can be found in other language versions of this page.
Nature protection in climate change
The CIPRA compact “Nature Protection“ provides an overview on actions for nature protection in the Alps to limit climate change and adapt to it. Through restoring the natural state of bogs and fens, a near-natural cultivation of forests, the revitalisation of rivers and the creation of ecological networks, nature protection can provide an essential contribution to climate protection while also ecologically enhancing habitats in the Alps and protecting the population from natural hazards. Additional relevant material on the issue can be found in other language versions of this page.
Constructing and refurbishing in climate change
This CIPRA compact offers an overview on building projects in the Alps for the reduction and adaptation to climate change. CIPRA shows its main stance on this point: building renovation is a fundamental contribution to climate protection. In new buildings the passive house standard must be introduced in the Alps. The house of the future will even produce energy! Additional relevant material on the issue can be found in other language versions of this page.
Transport in climate change
This CIPRA compact offers an overview on transport projects in the Alps for the reduction and adaptation to climate change. CIPRA shows its main stance on this point: if we do not change our mobility behaviours, climate objectives will not be reached! Truck transport must become more expensive and environmental transport types must be clearly forced.
Additional relevant material on the issue can be found in other language versions of this page.
Spatial planning in climate change
This CIPRA compact offers an overview on spatial planning measures in the Alps for the reduction and adaptation to climate change. Spatial planning can contribute with its tools to ensure climate storage areas such as swamps, forests and river areas and prepare areas for the production of renewable energies. It is fundamental that spatial planning decisions regarding space and settlement structures are moved from local to regional level.
Additional relevant material on the issue can be found in other language versions of this page.
Hydraulic power in the Alps
Does hydropower deliver green electricity? Hydropower is a renewable source of energy. The use of hydropower is emission-free and has no negative impact on our environment. What's more, large quantities of electricity can be produced relatively cost-effectively. So what more could you ask for? Well, the environmentally-conscious want more. The use of hydropower entails huge hydrological changes and major impacts on waterway systems. Entire eco-systems can be irreversibly damaged as a result. In the Alps in particular, the construction of hydropower stations has in the past destroyed natural and near-natural landscapes. So is electricity from hydropower green or not? Additional relevant material on the issue can be found in other language versions of this page.
Tourism in climate change
Climate Change challenges the alpine tourism. On the one hand it has to adapt to climate change, simultaneously it has to become more climate neutral. Especially the sectors of traffic and energy offer huge potentials to CO2-reduction. Authorities have to direct the development into a sustainable direction. Additional relevant material on the issue can be found in other language versions of this page.
Agriculture in climate change
The agricultural sector is directly affected by climate change impacts but it also contributes to the release of greenhouse gases (GHG) and rising concentrations of GHG in the atmosphere. A sustainable climate response strategy in the field of agriculture involves anticipating, planning and long-term thinking from farm level to transnational level. Prominent fields of activity are sustainable land and soil management, sustainable water management, managing manure and soil carbon as well as organic agriculture as an overall strategy. As agriculture is a highly subsidized economic sector, subvention policy can be used as a lever to guide the sector to sustainability and climate neutrality.
Additional relevant material on the issue can be found in other language versions of this page.
Forest management in climate change
Changing climate conditions have a noticeable influence on forests. Forest management must make effective adaptations with a very long-term perspective, taking account of climate change. Forests are not only affected by climate change: they also play a key role in adaptation measures and climate protection.
In the 32-page report CIPRA presents the effects from climate change to forestry, formulates its demands and shows good practice examples for climate friendly forest management in the Alps. Healthy, natural forests have to be the response to climate change!
The report exists only in German langue. CIPRA's demands which summarize the report are also available in English.
Additional relevant material on the issue can be found in other language versions of this page.
Water in climate change
Alpine rivers supply more than 170 millions of people with water. Climate change is going to reduce this water availability in the Alps and also in other regions. Water demand will rise as well as the competition between different stakeholder groups. In the 31-page compact CIPRA presents reports showing the effects from climate change to water utility, as well as political instruments and good practice examples. Because only an efficient water usage is sustainable! Additional relevant material on the issue can be found in other language versions of this page.
Energy self-sufficient regions
This compact provides an overview of energy self-sufficient regions in the Alps. Chapter 2 describes in a nutshell CIPRA’s central concern to make the Alps energy self-sufficient. Chapter 3 explores the idea of energy selfsufficiency in more detail. The most common arguments in favour of creating an energy self-sufficient region are then summarised. Chapter 5 looks at the individual building blocks, networks and structures that make up the energy self-sufficiency process; details of regional energy concepts are outlined and the success factors that promote the development of energy regions listed. Chapter 6 draws conclusions and then presents a number of examples of good practice from the Alpine region: three predominantly rural regions, one urban initiative from Bolzano and the state of Vorarlberg representing a larger region. Additional relevant material on the issue can be found in other language versions of this page.
Leisure-related traffic
The background report for the "Mobility and Leisure" Dossier features the latest facts and figures on the subject of leisure-related traffic. What activities act as its driving force? What modes of transport are actually used? How do different countries compare? And what sort of problems does leisure-related mobility entail? The main section features examples of the implementation of sustainable mobility in leisure-related traffic in the Alpine region. The emphasis is on special public transport offers for leisure activities as well as projects for sustainable transport solutions for tourism. In countries such as Switzerland, Austria or Germany leisure-related traffic already accounts for 50 to 60% of the overall traffic volume. In these countries the proportion of private motorised traffic in leisure-related traffic is very high, at around 60% to 80%. That proportion of leisure-related traffic is set to increase in the future. Additional relevant material on the issue can be found in other language versions of this page.
Modern architecture in the Alps
The building methods which have typically been used in Alpine regions have always focused on the needs of the population living there and the necessities of survival. It is therefore an architectural style which has been dictated by the limitations and peculiarities of the regions themselves. The old buildings which are today considered typical or traditional are not the result of informed decisions, but the consequences of necessity. The different settlements, houses, stables, places of worship and outbuildings were built not according to particular architectural styles or personal tastes, but as a consequence of binding criteria and based on a balance which had to be struck. So is there such a thing as a modern architecture in the Alps? Additional relevant material on the issue can be found in other language versions of this page.
