Media releases
Winter Olympics on shaky ground
Use as much concrete and steel as possible: that seems to be the sustainability strategy for the Winter Olympics in the Italian Alps. Mountain communities are particularly affected. The icing on the cake is the construction of a new cable car on a slippery slope in Cortina.
Open letter: Protecting the Alps from excessive transit traffic
The Alpine region is under increasing pressure from the climate crisis, air pollution and ever-growing traffic volumes: 67 organisations, led by CIPRA International, have therefore sent an open letter to EU Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas and the transport ministers of the Alpine countries.
Generational Change at CIPRA International
After seven eventful years at the helm of CIPRA International, Kaspar Schuler is retiring, well deserved. His former deputy, Jakob Dietachmair, takes over as Executive Director, while Magdalena Holzer, a long-standing project manager at CIPRA, becomes the new deputy director.
The Alps: More than just a playground
After two decades of being staged on other continents, the Olympic Games are returning to the Alps in 2026 with a commitment to “sustainable games” – a promise that has already been broken several times in the run-up to the event. In its new position paper, CIPRA calls for comprehensive reforms from both the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the host countries.
Renewable energies: Alpine Convention becomes decisive
The EU wishes to accelerate the expansion of renewable energies. In the Alps, however, this must not come at the expense of sensitive natural areas. CIPRA International has now achieved two important clarifications through legal action: as a treaty under international law, the Alpine Convention takes precedence over secondary European Union law – that is, EU regulations and EU directives; consequently, its provisions must also be complied with when implementing the Renewable Energy Directive (RED III).
AlpWeek 2024: Two decades of success and a vision for the future of the Alps
Nova Gorica, Slovenia, 26 September 2024 – Twenty years after the first AlpWeek, over 200 participants left the 2024 event reinvigorated by a shared commitment to a sustainable future for the Alps.
"Run the change" on the Via Alpina
British trail runner Jake Catterall is on course for a record: starting in Trieste, Italy, he has been running along the Via Alpina across the Alps to Monaco since 8 July 2024. The long-distance hiking trail across the Alps, which is organised by CIPRA, also runs through Liechtenstein, where the endurance athlete has now made a stopover.
Young people’s demands for a good life in the Alps
Environmental protection, car-free mobility and better work-life balance: these were the political demands of young people from Germany, France, Slovenia and Liechtenstein at the end of the CIPRA “Alpine Compass” project.
Dossier Quality of life and young in the Alps the case of Slovenia, Germany and France
Between January 2023 and May 2024, CIPRA Slovenia was together with CIPRA Germany, CIPRA France, and CIPRA International working on researching the topic of quality of life for young people in the Alps. With the support from ERASMUS+, a Dossier, which is part of the project Alpine Compass: Youth for the quality of life in the Alps, was created.
International training on inclusion and sustainability in mountain regions
Between May 27th and 31st, over 30 people from the Alpine region gathered in Wildhaus/CH to attend the training within the project »Via Alpina Youth«. The aim was to explore and discuss the potential of mountain and nature experiences within the work with young people. The workshop was organised by CIPRA Switzerland and CIPRA International.
A management model for Jelovica
Restoring a damaged forest and other good practices: The JeloviZa project implemented a management model for a sensible natural area in Slovenia.
Gigaliners: a danger to people and nature
Trucks weighing up to 60 tonnes and 25 metres long: the European Parliament’s Transport Committee voted in favour of so-called gigaliners in mid-February 2024 – despite the serious concerns expressed by CIPRA.
Alpine Basecamp for good ideas
Revitalising valleys, identifying with landscapes, climbing more sustainably, using old irrigation systems innovatively, eating radically and locally: 18 participants honed such project ideas at the second “Alpine Changemaker Basecamp” (ACB), held in Silandro/I at the beginning of July 2023.
South-East Europe’s first climate champions crowned
Climate protection across borders: on 9 November 2022, South-East Europe’s first Climate Champions were crowned in Sarajevo/BiH. From 40 projects submitted on climate protection and sustainability, an international jury of experts selected five, while two other projects received special awards.
Alliance for climate-neutral Alpine transport
Seven of eight signatory states to the Alpine Convention today signed a progressive action plan for climate-neutral mobility by 2050 in Brig/CH. CIPRA International contributed to the almost two-year development of the action plan with proposals for the “Simplon Alliance”. CIPRA and the Alpine Initiative are calling for more than mere lip service to the alliance.
Flexible and eco-friendly through the Alps
The right decision for their wallet and for the environment: 150 young participants in CIPRA’s Youth Alpine Interrail project celebrated the end of their climate-friendly journey of discovery through the Alps by train and bus in Bern at the beginning of October 2022.
Ideas for Jelovica from Pinzgau
Preserving the region’s natural and cultural heritage: this is the aim of the project on the Slovenian karst plateau of Jelovica. In mid-September 2022, the Slovenian partners of the “JeloviZA” project travelled to the Austrian Pinzgau region to gain inspiration from the Hohe Tauern National Park region.
Via Alpina Explorer on the trail
Get your boots on, get set, go! Until the end of September 2022, nine “explorers” will be hiking along the redesigned Via Alpina route. They tell stories about alpine biodiversity, the magic of long-distance hiking, regional specialities and encounters along the way – in a series of short videos, reports, film and art projects.
Alps in transition
The ecological transition is already happening in the Alps – and we are in the middle of it. The AlpWeek 2022 from 5 to 7 September 2022 in Brig-Glis/CH will bring together citizens and decision-makers to discuss the many aspects of transformation in the Alps. CIPRA is co-organiser of the international event.
CIPRA celebrates 70 years of Alpine protection
Connecting people, overcoming borders, protecting the Alps: For 70 years CIPRA has been working for a good life in the Alps. What might the Alps of the future look like? On the occasion of its birthday on 5 May, CIPRA is also taking a new look at itself.
A voyage of discovery along the Via Alpina
On with your hiking boots, get set, go! To mark the 20th anniversary of the Via Alpina, the long-distance hiking trail across the Alps, CIPRA International is awarding eight hiking scholarships with the support of the VAUDE Sport Albrecht von Dewitz Foundation. Applications will be accepted up until 6 February.
New alliance for European mountain regions
Global warming, excessive tourism and landscape degradation require the very highest degree of multifaceted solutions. Three umbrella organizations committed to mountaineering and sustainability in European mountain regions therefore decided, at the end of November 2021, to join forces: the Club Arc Alpin (CAA), the European Union of Mountaineering Associations (EUMA) and the International Commission for the Protection of the Alps (CIPRA).
Dutch-Alpine partnership for sustainable tourism
Since January 2021 the Dutch Climbing and Mountaineering Association (NKBV) is new supporting member of CIPRA International. Regarding the large impact of Dutch visitors, the aim of the partnership is to contribute to sustainability in Alpine tourism.
Freight transport belongs on the rails
Agreement on the Eurovignette Directive must not be delayed any longer. CIPRA International and the "iMonitraf!" network are therefore calling for rapid agreement to ease the burden on humans and nature. The aim of the directive must be preserved: freight transport needs to be shifted to the railways.
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.
Youth Alpine Interrail: On track for 2020
With CIPRA's «Youth Alpine Interrail» project, 100 young people travelled environmentally friendly through the Alps this summer. On 27 September 2019, the successful conclusion was celebrated in Bern/CH, where the travellers also worked together to develop demands for sustainable transport.
For visitors and for locals
What is a good life in the Alps? How can tourism be reshaped? CIPRA International has dedicated its 2018 Annual Report to both local residents and visitors to the Alps and, under the motto “Visitors and residents”, has illustrated how tourism and quality of life can be compatible.
Youth participation is a must, not a nice extra
More youth participation in the Alps! This appeal went to the politicians of the Alpine countries at the conference on the GaYA project in Chambéry/F. The extent to which the topic moves was shown by the participation of numerous young people and representatives from politics and society throughout the Alps.
Recognising the importance of Alpine ecosystems
While one group has highlighted ecosystem performances, another has tested participatory approaches to river management: a total of 19 partners from six Alpine countries have for three years now been co-operating on two projects. They presented their findings on 21 and 22 November 2018 in Innsbruck, Austria.