Point of view: Climate protection requires clear legislation!
Glacier melt, disappearing permafrost, more frequent rockfalls and mudslides: temperatures in the Alpine region are rising faster than the global average – with dramatic consequences for nature and people. That is why decisive climate protection laws are now needed at regional and national level, demands Elisabeth Ladinser, chair of the South Tyrolean Umbrella Organisation for Nature and Environmental Protection and president of CIPRA South Tyrol.
Together with the South Tyrolean Association for the Preservation of Local Heritage and Climate Action, we have launched the campaign “For a provincial climate law”. The aim is to draw attention to the urgent need for a climate law for South Tyrol. In March 2025, over 40 associations from the fields of the environment, youth, social affairs, trade unions and organic farming signed a joint manifesto sending a clear signal: South Tyrol needs a provincial climate law – now! This was followed in April by a symposium on the topic and, on 1 July, a workshop to develop concrete content. The ball is now in the politicians’ court.
Protecting the climate demands cross-border cooperation
The climate crisis does not stop at national borders – it affects us all. Our initiative is therefore also intended to serve as an impetus for the CIPRA family. Let’s work together for strong, legally binding climate protection throughout the Alpine region!
The Alps are being particularly hard hit: temperatures are rising faster here than the global average, glaciers are visibly melting, while natural hazards such as rockfalls, mudslides and pest infestations are on the rise. At the same time, the Alpine region has great potential: the Innsbruck Declaration, the “Alpine Climate Target System 2050”, has already agreed to make the Alps a model region for integrated approaches that focus on both climate protection and adaptation to climate change, thus maximising the positive side effects of both aspects. Prosperous tourist regions such as South Tyrol have the resources and visibility to take on a pioneering role. Visitors could experience how climate protection works in practice and take this experience home with them. Role models such as Bavaria and the Swiss canton of Fribourg also show that climate legislation is feasible in the Alpine region!
Don’t just talk – act now!
Effective climate protection requires long-term planning, cross-party cooperation and cross-border implementation. Political rhetoric is no longer enough – time is running out! We must get politicians to move from promises to action. We must raise awareness of the urgency of climate targets among the general public, especially among voters.
Let’s stand together for the legal enshrining of climate protection – for a climate-neutral Alpine region!
Further information
A heat record for June at 5,000 metres
When mountains break away: living with danger
